The Sokoto State government has expressed its readiness to partner with the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) or any organization that is willing to move the state forward.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Jamilu Shehu Tangaza, stated this while flagging-off a five-day stakeholders’ engagement for the development of the Catchment Management Plan for Sokoto, Zamfara, River Rima, River Sokoto and Gabin-ka strategic catchments, organized by ACReSAL at the Command Guest House on Monday.
The Commissioner said Governor Ahmad Aliyu is pleased that stakeholders were gathered in Sokoto to discuss the challenges and opportunities related to water resources in Sokoto and other catchment states.
“The state government is ready to support any partnership aimed at bringing development to the state”, while urging all stakeholders to give their necessary support in achieving the desired objectives.
The National Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, Abdulhamid Umar, said the Catchment Management Plan is a national development initiative aimed at investing in water resources located in specific settlements.
He stated that they are in Sokoto because of the Sokoto and River Rivers, where five states benefit from the flow of their water.
He added that communities from the geographical locations were invited to know the challenges they were facing and to encourage the predominant occupations of the people in the areas.
The Coordinator stressed that due to the availability of land in the areas, the communities would be taught what will impact their livelihood and what is available for them as far as natural resources are concerned.
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“We have conducted similar stakeholders engagement in Kano where Jama’arsa and Catchment areas were listed, and another one for Benue and other catchment states” he added.
In his remarks, the ACReSAL State Coordinator, Ibrahim Umar, highlighted that the Catchment Management Plan consists of a series of interventions designed to maximize the utilization of water resources in relation to other resources and the environment.
He added that the plan looks at how farmers utilize water for agriculture, irrigation, animal husbandry, fishing, or other economic activities.
He further stressed the need to explore ways of utilizing these resources without depleting them.
The event brought together experts, stakeholders and representatives from 19 northern states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
