The Federal Capital Territory Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (FCT-ACReSAL) Project Implementation Unit has distributed 10 tractors and 140 power tillers to Community Interest Groups (CIGs) in Abuja. Additionally, three utility vehicles, improved seeds, fertilizers, insecticides, and other agrochemicals were distributed under the ACReSAL project.
This distribution event also included the inauguration of one of eight solar-powered boreholes at the Sheda Cassava Women Processing Centre in Kwali, as part of the project’s livelihood support initiative.
Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, Minister of State, FCT, explained during the distribution exercise in Kwali on Tuesday that ACReSAL is a World Bank-supported project. Mahmoud reiterated the FCT’s commitment to ACReSAL’s goals of reclaiming degraded lands and improving the livelihood of communities through best agricultural practices.
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She highlighted that the project aims to enhance community resilience against climate change and improve the livelihoods of communities in the 19 northern states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.
Mahmoud noted that the FCT has been grappling with the devastating consequences of large-scale land degradation for 48 years. This degradation has resulted from rapid infrastructural development leading to the substantial loss of its precious tree cover.
She expressed optimism that the ACReSAL project, with its bold and ambitious land restoration initiatives, targets the reclamation of over 10,000 hectares of degraded land in the territory.
“We are committed to providing all that is required through the relevant secretariat, departments, and agencies of the FCT Administration to ensure the success of this worthy initiative. Ultimately, our goal is to secure a brighter future for our citizens, where their livelihoods and well-being are protected and enhanced. We believe that ACReSAL is a critical step towards achieving this vision,” Mahmoud stated.
The minister further noted that the agricultural sector, which is the mainstay of the nation’s economy, has been severely affected by the devastating impacts of climate change. According to her, the situation not only negatively impacts national food security but also jeopardizes the livelihoods of millions of people, exacerbating poverty and vulnerability.
She said that the distribution of the inputs was a strategic response to one of the most pressing challenges faced by farmers, which include a lack of access to critical agricultural inputs and limited knowledge of sustainable landscape management practices.
“We hope that this support will build farmers’ resilience and their capacities to contribute meaningfully to food security and sustainable development in the FCT,” she stressed.
Mahmoud called on the Area Council Chairmen, who chairs the Local Government Implementation Committee of the ACReSAL project, to monitor the community utilization of the tractors and other machines to achieve the desired objectives.
In his remarks, Mr Lawan Geidam, Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, said that the ACReSAL project implementation unit had put necessary structures in place for the smooth implementation of the project.
Geidam explained that the three utility vehicles would be handed over to various institutions as part of ACReSAL’s institutional strengthening initiative. The goal, according to him, is to enhance their capacities to serve communities better in activities that align with the project development objectives of ACReSAL.
He added that the eight solar-powered boreholes, constructed in eight communities, were to provide access to potable water for daily living and agricultural activities. The mandate secretary also mentioned that the CIGs have been trained and registered as cooperative groups for the effective utilization of the inputs.
