Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – Governor, Caleb Mutfwang has launched the World Bank-initiated Agro-Climatic Resilience Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project in Plateau State with a pledge to ensure value for money on all projects and programmes being executed in the State.
The Governor thanked the World Bank for financing the project even though it is a loan that would be repaid and advised the Project Coordinators to make good use of the resources at their disposal to execute projects that will stand the test of time knowing that the projects are meant for the Plateau people and the money would be repaid by the people.
Speaking during the launch of the project/stakeholders engagement on Thursday in Jos, the Governor said, “I wish to appeal to the Coordinators of these projects to ensure that we get value for money wherever these projects are cited. The (ACReSAL) project is about refilling the land to make it serve mankind. Without water, we cannot survive, therefore, we will ensure that water is appropriately channelled to places where there is no water so that we can have water to drink and for irrigation. There will be synergy between government Ministries to ensure the proper delivery of these projects.”
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He expressed optimism that when the projects are completed, they will also generate employment opportunities for the teeming youths of the State he also commended the World Bank for financing other vital projects in the State, especially in the areas of improving the nutrition of children, assist the girl child, build infrastructure in schools in the state, among other things.
Earlier, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chadhuri expressed the Bank’s readiness to support Plateau State Government in financing projects that will have a positive impact on the people.
He said the World Bank is willing to make life better for Nigerian citizens and to make the country more resilient in addressing issues of climate change, insecurity, land degradation, and water scarcity among others.
The Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba called for more collaboration between the government, Traditional rulers and citizens in addressing environmental issues that affect the state and stressed there is a need for synergy among the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Land and Survey and the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) in tackling the issues of environmental degradation in the State.
