Sule inaugurates ACReSAL heavy-duty equipment to tackle flooding, erosion

Gov. Abdullahi Sule has inaugurated heavy-duty equipment procured under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) programme to tackle flooding, erosion and other related environmental challenges in the state.

Gov. Sule performed the inauguration on Wednesday in Lafia.

Sule commended the World Bank for its support to ACRESAL and for consistently recognising Nasarawa as one of the leading states in implementing the programme.

He also thanked the National ACRESAL Coordinator for his contributions to developing the programme in the state.

The equipment, which includes an amphibious swamp buggy, grader, bulldozer, dump truck and low-bed truck, is expected to support desilting of waterways, land restoration, dredging and other environmental interventions across the state.

The governor said the equipment represented another milestone in the state’s efforts to address the effects of climate change, noting that flooding and erosion remained serious challenges that could no longer be ignored.

He said the machines would reduce the state’s dependence on private contractors for major environmental works, thereby saving resources and enabling the government to respond more quickly to emergencies.

According to him, the equipment will be deployed for desilting waterways, land restoration and dredging of areas affected by environmental degradation.

He directed the relevant authorities to ensure that competent and technically skilled personnel were recruited to operate and maintain the equipment.

He, however, urged residents to stop building on waterways and dumping refuse in drainage, stressing that human activities were contributing significantly to flooding in the state.

The governor, while commending the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources for its consistency on environmental issues, urged the ministry to sustain collaboration with traditional rulers and stakeholders in addressing environmental challenges.

Speaking earlier, Magareth Elayo, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, said the equipment would enhance the ministry’s capacity to respond to environmental challenges and other critical infrastructure.

She said the amphibious swamp buggy would be particularly useful in difficult and waterlogged terrains where conventional equipment could not operate effectively.

Elayo said environmental challenges such as flooding, erosion, blocked waterways and wetland degradation were interconnected and required coordinated interventions.

She pledged that the ministry would work with ACReSAL, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), local government, relevant agencies and stakeholders to ensure proper deployment of the equipment.

She expressed appreciation to ACReSAL and the World Bank for the intervention, and noted that the equipment would strengthen the state’s institutional capacity to respond to environmental priorities.