The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, on Tuesday disbursed $25,000 each to ten communities as part of the pilot phase of the Community Revolving Fund (CRF), a key initiative under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.
The funds, distributed through Community Revolving Fund Management Committees, aim to bolster agro-climatic resilience and promote sustainable land and water management practices in these communities. Mahmoud also flagged off the distribution of water pumping machines, motorcycles for forest guards, water tankers, and a multipurpose truck to support reforestation and irrigation farming.
The pilot beneficiary communities include Dafa, Gbako, Sheda, Pukafa, Ike, Tekpese, Wako, Ashara, Gbawuji, and Rugan Bature. The minister emphasized that the funds, provided at zero interest, must be repaid on time to ensure sustainability and extend the benefits to others.
“I urge you to utilize these funds wisely and responsibly, leveraging this opportunity to enhance your socio-economic well-being, improve livelihoods, and contribute meaningfully to community development,” Mahmoud said during the ceremony in Abuja.
The initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s strategic efforts to address the escalating food crisis in Nigeria. Mahmoud noted that the project also reflects the FCT Administration’s commitment to supporting vulnerable groups and fostering a more equitable and resilient region.
She praised the World Bank’s invaluable partnership in implementing the ACReSAL project and highlighted the Federal Project Management Unit’s contributions to its success. Mahmoud reaffirmed the FCT Administration’s dedication to improving residents’ lives under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Mandate Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Hon. Lawan Kolo Geidam, described the CRF as a pivotal tool for empowering communities with financial resources to adopt innovative, climate-smart agricultural practices. He revealed that the project had already led to notable advancements, including the reforestation of degraded forest reserves in Buja and Kujekwa.
Geidam also highlighted achievements such as planting a 160-kilometer shelterbelt from Zuba to Giri Junction to Abaji, installing over 41 solar-powered boreholes, and constructing 60 tubewells to support dry-season farming.
Distributed items included 60 solar-powered water pumping machines, 30 motorcycles for forest guards, and newly acquired equipment like water tankers and a multipurpose truck for irrigation farming.
The FCT Administration pledged to ensure prudent use of the funds and continue supporting projects that uplift communities, promote food security, and advance sustainable agriculture in the territory.
