The Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Lawan Kolo Gaidam, has solicited the full cooperation of Area Council Authorities in the implementation of the the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project in the FCT.

Gaidam made this appeal during an engagement session with the Directors of Environment, Agriculture, and Water Resources from the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Geidam who also chairs theTechnical Implementation Committee (TIC) of the project in FCT, emphasized thesignificance of the projectwhich he noted isprimarily a community-driven initiativethat is finances by the World Bank, aims to address environmental challenges in the 19 Northern states of Nigeria and the FCT by promoting the adoption of sustainable landscape practices in targeted watersheds.

The Secretary emphasized the critical role of partnering with the Area Councils to ensure the success of the project, specifically in tackling the challenges posed by climate change, desertification, and inefficient use of land and water resources. The project’s  objective he emphasized,  is to enhance agricultural practices through comprehensive projects, awareness campaigns and training initiatives.

“The ACReSAL project presents a unique opportunity for us to transform the agricultural landscape of the FCT,. Our Area Councils are vital partners in this endeavor, as their collaboration and support will be instrumental in reaching out to farmers, disseminating information, and facilitating the implementation of the projects” Geidam said.

He restated the commitment of the FCT Administration to provide full support to ensure ACReSAL achieves its intended objectives.“As you can see, the FCT Administration has since keying into the project made sure it meets all the requirements for participation as provided by the World Bank and we are determinized to ensure that FCT becomes the best amongst all the participating states”the Secretary noted.

Earlier in her address, the Project Coordinator, FCT ACReSAL, Mrs. Caroline Opara, stated the purpose of the engagement which she said was to share valuable insights, knowledge, and foster a deeper understanding of the Project Development Objectives (PDO) with the Area Councils.

She stressed the need for the Area Councils to mobilise the support of the communities by enlightening them on benefits that the ACReSAL Project holds for the environment and agricultural practices in the communities.

According to her, “Engagement with the local communities will help foster a sense of ownership and active involvement among the community members, ensuring their commitment to sustainable environmental practices and improved agricultural techniques”

She disclosed plans to establish a dedicated Area Councils implementation Committee comprising representatives from the Project Implementation Unit and the Area Councils to streamline communication and ensure a unified approach towards achieving the objectives of the ACReSAL project.

The Project Coordinator emphasized the significance of the Area Councils’ support by urging them to allocate land for specific project activities. She stressed the importance of their involvement in facilitating community sensitization and engagement efforts undertaken by ACReSAL. Furthermore, Mrs. Opara highlighted the Area Councils’ responsibility in ensuring the safety and well-being of project officials during their interactions with the local communities.

In his presentation, the NRO Officer Mr.Olalekan Ifelola explained that the ACReSAL Project is a 6-year strategic project which prioritizes actions within four components: Dry land Management, Community Climate Resilience, Institutional Strengthening and Project Management, and Contingent Emergency Response. All of which are geared at improving the capacities of the participating states  to adapt to a changing climate, largely through enhancing multi-sectoral convergence (across environment, agriculture and water) and technology modernization, including improved use of data, analytics, and connectivity.

In their separate responses the Representatives of the Are councils expressed their commitment to supporting the ACReSAL project. They acknowledged the significance of the initiative in addressing the challenges faced by farmers and welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the development and growth of the agricultural sector in the FCT.

The engagement session provided a platform for open dialogue and discussion, where participants asked questions and exchange ideas, on strategies to maximize the project’s benefits.