By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project has pledged to partner with the N...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project has pledged to partner with the Niger State Government and other relevant stakeholders to prevent future occurrences of flooding in Mokwa Local Government Area.
This assurance was given during a high-level visit to Mokwa by a World Bank delegation led by Mrs. Aganya Joy Agane, a Senior Environmental Specialist and Task Team Leader of the ACReSAL project. The visit aimed to sympathize with flood victims and assess the damage for potential intervention.
Mrs. Agane emphasized that based on the team's assessment, addressing environmental degradation in Mokwa requires more than fixing gully erosion. She noted that a redesign of the catchment area is necessary to include broader interventions for lasting solutions.
Speaking during the visit, the Permanent Secretary of the Niger State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Musa, stressed the importance of identifying the root causes of the recent flooding to prevent future disasters.
Also present was the Niger State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Musa Salihu Bosso, who reaffirmed the state government's commitment and support for the successful implementation of the ACReSAL project.
The delegation included the Niger State Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, Mr. Raji Shehu Adam, representatives from the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Environment, and technical officers from 19 northern states involved in the ACReSAL initiative.
According to a statement by the project’s Communication Officer, Maiwada Balarabe, the visit to Mokwa served as both a condolence and technical assessment mission. The delegation met with the Chairman of Mokwa Local Government and traditional rulers, conducted field assessments of affected areas, and engaged residents in interactive sessions to gather data for possible future interventions.
Several homes, farmlands, and critical infrastructure in Mokwa were severely damaged by the floods, highlighting the area’s vulnerability to climate-induced disasters.
Mrs. Agane, in her address, expressed sympathy to the victims and reaffirmed ACReSAL’s commitment to supporting climate adaptation and flood resilience measures. Mr. Raji Shehu Adam echoed this sentiment, stressing the project's dedication to working with local authorities to implement sustainable land and water management practices.
The team recommended:
Immediate technical support for damage assessment and resilience planning in Mokwa.
Integration of Mokwa into ACReSAL’s long-term flood control strategies.
Community engagement and sensitization on climate resilience.
Provision of infrastructure and ecological restoration support.
The visit marked a significant step toward collaborative efforts in building climate resilience and ensuring long-term environmental sustainability in Mokwa and similar vulnerable communities.
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