Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, today presented cheques worth $25,000 (N37.5m) each to ten selected communities under the Community Revolving Funds (CRF) initiative.
The funds are aimed at supporting farmer groups to invest in climate-smart, rain-fed agricultural interventions. The event also saw the commissioning of an Amphibious Excavator, popularly known as a “Swamp Buggy,” which will be deployed to desilt riverbeds and clear drainages to mitigate flooding in the state.
The ceremony, held in Kaduna, was attended by the Honorable Minister of Environment, Mal. Balarabe Abbas Lawal, and a delegation from the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, led by Task Team Lead Dr. Joy Iganya Agene and National Project Coordinator Mal. Abdulhamid Umar. The ACReSAL project, funded by the World Bank, focuses on building climate resilience in semi-arid regions of Nigeria.
In her remarks, Dr. Iganya praised the Kaduna State Government for its unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability, noting that the state has consistently ranked among the top performers in the ACReSAL project. She revealed that due to Kaduna State’s impressive track record, the World Bank has committed additional funds to support the project in the state.
Governor Uba Sani, in his address, expressed gratitude to the ACReSAL team for their support in tackling environmental challenges and building resilience across northern Nigeria. He reiterated Kaduna State’s dedication to combating climate change and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for its citizen.
“Kaduna State is proud to be at the forefront of initiatives aimed at combating climate change and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for our people,” he said.
The Governor highlighted several key achievements under the state’s environmental sustainability agenda, including the unveiling of a 10-year Climate Change Policy, the training of 500 women, youth, and school-feeding vendors in the production of biomass briquettes as an alternative to wood fuel, and the identification of 22,435 hectares of degraded land for restoration. He also emphasized the state’s investment in state-of-the-art weather stations and the procurement of the Swamp Buggy, which will play a critical role in flood mitigation efforts.
The Community Revolving Funds initiative, which aligns with the state’s Rural Transformation Agenda, is designed to provide loans to registered farmer groups under the umbrella of Community Interest Groups (CIGs). These loans will enable farmers to invest in climate-smart agricultural practices. The first phase of the initiative will benefit 82 registered CIGs in Kudan and Kubau Local Government Areas, with subsequent phases rolling out to other regions of the state.
Governor Sani reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote environmental sustainability and rural transformation.
“We will continue to invest in policies and programs that promote climate resilience, protect our natural resources, and enhance agricultural productivity,” he stated.
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