According to the Project Coordinator of the ACReSAL Project, Sani Adamu Jauro, the GRM committee which was set up and inaugurated on Friday in Gombe, was established to handle any complaints or concerns that may arise during the implementation of the project. He explained that as part of the preparation for the commencement of the project, the state government has in collaboration with the World Bank provided over N389 million for the payment compensation and resettlement of affected residents along the gully erosion site.

He added that there is a kind of incentive set aside for some elders in the area, hence, the GRM Committee and other committees were set up to hear and make decisions regarding the complaints and grievances that may arise, “this is in line with the state governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s social justice system.

He further disclosed that the committee which is made up of community members will work closely with the project management team to address any issues that may arise, and ensure that grievances are resolved in a timely and effective manner.

He said, “We want every member of the society to be carried along and have a say in this history-making project if the communities are represented and are part of the planning and preparation, it will be very easy to address any challenges that we may encounter while implementing the project,” Sani stated.

According to him, in addition to the GRM Committee, the ACReSAL Project has also set up other committees to oversee different aspects of the 21-kilometer erosion control project. “These committees have been carefully selected and trained to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge necessary to carry out their roles effectively,” Sani added.

He equally stated that the ACReSAL team recognizes that community participation and ownership are crucial for the success of any project, and the setting up of these committees is just one way in which the project is working to ensure that the communities are fully involved in the implementation of the project. The PC further disclosed that the ACReSAL Project has been making strides in empowering communities and improving their resilience to climate change across the state.

He assured that the team would be visiting other gully erosion sites around the Gombe metropolis with similar interventions which had already been tested and succeeded at the gully erosion sites around the Gombe State University (GSU).