The Kwara State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project has inaugurated its Grievance Redress Committee at both the state and Project Implementation Unit levels to strengthen accountability, transparency and the effective resolution of complaints arising from project implementation.

Speaking during the inauguration in Ilorin, the Kwara State Project Coordinator, Alhaji Shamsideen Aregbe, represented by the Commissioner for Environment and Chairperson of the State Steering Committee, Hajia Nafisat Buge, described the committee's inauguration as a major step towards strengthening the project's accountability and grievance management framework.

Aregbe explained that the World Bank requires every ACReSAL intervention to establish a functional Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) to ensure that complaints relating to project activities are promptly received, properly documented and resolved in a transparent and fair manner.

He said the mechanism provides a structured process for resolving grievances, beginning at the community level and progressing, where necessary, through the State Project Management Unit, the State Steering Committee, the Federal Project Management Unit and ultimately the World Bank.

According to him, committee members are expected to coordinate the management of complaints, maintain an up-to-date grievance register and facilitate the timely resolution or escalation of cases through the established channels.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Dr Abubakar Ayinla, urged members of the committee to discharge their responsibilities with fairness, impartiality and strict adherence to the rule of law.

He noted that land-related disputes often arise during the implementation of development projects and stressed the need to handle every grievance professionally, with due regard for justice, environmental sustainability and the welfare of affected communities.

The Grievance Redress Mechanism Officer (GRMO), Abdulquadir Abdulquadir, appreciated stakeholders for their support and called for sustained collaboration to ensure the prompt, transparent and equitable resolution of grievances.

The committee comprises the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Dr Abubakar Ayinla; the Kwara State Surveyor-General; directors from the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture; a representative of the Ministry of Justice; and other relevant members of the Kwara ACReSAL State Project Management Unit.