13/08/2026
BENUE HOSTS ACRESAL FPMU ON A 4-DAY CRF SUPPORT AND ASSESSMENT MISSION
The Federal Project Management Unit, FPMU, of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project - ACReSAL carried out a 4-day support mission in Benue State to strengthen the implementation of the Community Revolving Fund (CRF).
The mission began on Monday with a stakeholder meeting at the Benue ACReSAL Project Office, Makurdi. Participants included staff of the State Project Management Unit, SPMU, Focal NGOs, and Local Government Project Management Committee, LGPMC, Desk Officers.
Welcoming the FPMU team, the Benue ACReSAL State Project Coordinator, Bldr. Victor Ama, said the CRF is a flagship intervention to promote sustainable livelihoods, climate resilience, and income generation for vulnerable communities. He noted that the CRF was piloted in 10 communities across Makurdi and Vandeikya watersheds, covering 50 Community Interest Groups - CIGs and 500 beneficiaries.
According to him, cooperative groups have been formed, funds disbursed, and livelihood activities started. However, challenges such as slow repayment, weak record keeping, low financial literacy, insecurity, and flooding are affecting progress. He noted the state has already started corrective measures including follow-up visits, engagement with cooperative leaders, improved record keeping, and increased field monitoring.
Leading the FPMU delegation, Mr. Sule James, Operations Specialist, said the visit was to provide technical support to the state and ensure the CRF remains truly "revolving." FPMU Climate Change Specialist, Mrs. Henrietta Alhassan, described the CRF as a critical component of ACReSAL. She expressed hope that the mission would produce actionable recommendations to improve implementation.
In a status update, Benue ACReSAL CRF Desk Officer, Mrs. Seember Ugboho, disclosed that ₦350 million has been received by CRF Management Committees. The funds have benefited 500 beneficiaries already, she added that the SPMU continues to provide mentoring and monitoring, but called for stronger financial discipline at community level.
During the session, the team reviewed key CRF documents and processes to assess compliance, documentation, and overall implementation progress in collaboration with the SPMU and the financial teams of Focal NGOs, the FPMU also conducted account reconciliation and reviewed financial records of CRF Management Committees and Community Interest Groups, CIGs.
According to FPMU team lead Mr. Sule James, the aim of the review is to strengthen financial accountability, improve record-keeping, and identify gaps that require immediate corrective action. Mrs. Henrietta Alhassan, noted that proper documentation and transparent fund management are critical for building community trust and ensuring the CRF delivers on its livelihood and climate resilience mandate.
As part of the mission, the FPMU team visited three pilot communities in Makurdi LGA at Adeke, North Bank, and Wadata communities, where they met with CIG leaders, CRF Management Committees, and beneficiaries to assess loan utilization, repayment records as well as challenges delaying payments by other CIGs.
The FPMU team lead Mr. James Sule frowned at none callant attitude of Adeke, Modern, and other towards CRF loans granted to them. He however, gave accolade to Wadata women and Garri women sellers in North Bank for their up to date payments, defaulting CIGs faulted insecurity, drought, late disbursement of funds, flooding among other issues delayed them in making payments and called on the FPMU and SPMU to give them more time to enable them pay off the loans.
