The Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, Tuesday, disbursed $25,000.00 each to 10 communities that qualified for the pilot stage of the Community Revolving Fund (CRF) through their respective Community Revolving Fund Management Committees.
Mahmoud also flagged off the distribution of water pumping machines to Community Interest Groups (CIGs),and motorcycles to the FCT Forest Guards, water tanker and a multipurpose truck to support reforestation efforts of the FCT administration.
The minister who made these presentations to the benefiting communities in Abuja also acknowledged that the Community Revolving Fund (CRF) was a pivotal aspect of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.
This project, according to her, is specifically under component B, which focuses on bolstering agro-climatic resilience at both the community and household levels by promoting locally and adapted sustainable land and water management (SLWM) strategies and through climate smart approaches to agriculture and natural resource management.
She stated that although the fund was provided at zero interest rates, she warned that timely repayment is essential for its sustainability and to allow others to benefit.
She said; “I urge you to utilise these funds wisely and responsibly, leveraging this opportunity to enhance your socio-economic well-being, improve your livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to the development of your communities.”
Mahmoud described the timing of the initiative as apt, and significant as it aligns with the federal government’s strategic efforts to combat the escalating food crisis in Nigeria.
