World Bank donates N70m to 2022 flood victims in Jigawa

World Bank under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Sami Arid landscapes (ACReSAL) project set to disburse the sum of N70 million grand as empowerment to 20 selected and screened farmers group in Jigawa.

Report from the state indicated that the project in collaboration with the Jigawa government is aimed at empowering some communities badly affected by the 2022 flood disaster in the State.

Speaking at a meeting with the beneficiary communities during an official visit to Gamsarka and Dabi villages in Auyo and Ringim local government areas in the state, the World Bank representative, Mr Ashada expressed delight for the proper plans and arraignment for the taking up of the project in the state.

Mr Ashada noted, “I’m very happy to be in Dabi village in Ringim local government area, for the World Bank programme in Nigeria for the preparing, planning, and implementation of the Community Revolving Fund (CRF) on components of the ACReSAl.

“Community revolving fund (CRF) is a village-level fund to support community farmers cooperatives to undertake investment specific to the climate-smart agriculture intervention, the community/farmers groups will prepare investment/business plan and apply for loans from the CRF.

“I’m very happy to see Community revolving fund (CRF) in action on the ground in the community today. Another impressive is the involvement and coming together of the all stakeholders from the national to the state to local government and community level”.

In his part, the Jigawa state commissioner of environment, Dr Nura Ibrahim expressed government gratitude for making Jigawa one of the beneficiaries of the programme.

Dr Nura Ibrahim explained that the Malam Umar Namadi-led administration is committed to anything that would improve the social and economic lives of the people in the state, “and another impressive of this project is part of the governor Malam Umar Namadi’s 12 point agendas”.

The environment commissioner charged the beneficiaries to maintain and make good use of the loan by providing whatever they need to improve their farming activities.

He said if the World Bank team comes back next year to see a positive change in all the communities. “What had been invested brought wealth to these communities.

Also speaking the community representative and chairman of the farmers’ groups, Malam Ismaila said “the group were made up of both male and female farmers. There is three components of the groups, that of male farmers group, female farmers group and combine males and females farther group”.

He said they were very careful in forming the group and each had been screened before considering to be a member of a respective group.

Malam Ismaila assured that the group members would judicially and religiously follow the rules, guidelines, and agreed terms and conditions for the loans.