Fadama mission: FG starts review of North-East Food Security, Livelihood Support Project

The Federal Government’s Fadama III Second Additional Financing (AFII) says it will on Monday start a review of Food Security and Livelihood Support Project activities of the six North East states ravaged by insurgency.

Mr Ibrahim Alkali, the Desk Officer for Fadama III AFII, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

“Starting from Nov. 26, we will commence a review of the Food Security and Livelihood Support Project activities of the six North-East States of Nigeria ravaged by the insurgency.

“The Federal Government had in 2016 secured additional financing loan from the World Bank, specifically to address the issue of food scarcity, job loss, damaged infrastructures and water shortage in the six affected states.

“The project has been catering for agricultural and livelihood restoration needs of families whose livelihood have been devastated by conflicts.

“These were identified by the Recovery and Peace Building Assessment (RPBA), prepared by the Government of Nigeria with support from the World Bank in the agriculture sector.

“The Federal Government in conjunction with the states and local government councils in the North East, has been providing support for restoration of the agricultural production activities through provision of starter packages to affected households.

“These include required agricultural inputs and on-farm and post-harvest productive assets, to support economic opportunities with specific focus on women and youths.’’

Alkali, an engineer told NAN that the project also finances the related advisory and extension services; including provision of food assistance to cope with the lean period while awaiting the first harvest.

“It did rehabilitation and investment on rural infrastructure like markets, post-harvest equipment, storage facilities including aggregation centers, production pens and houses for livestock, rural network of roads,’’ he told NAN.

According to the desk officer, Food Security, Livelihoods Support and Community Infrastructure Investment has been introduced as a new component to the ongoing project as component seven.

“Project management, monitoring and evaluation component was scaled-up to support project implementation.

“During the mission, projects objectives, implementation and outcome will be reviewed along with disbursement, where necessary.

“Advice will be offered and technical assistance provided towards the attainment of project objectives in record time,’’ Alkali said. (NAN)