The Federal Government on Tuesday reiterated its commitment to strengthening climate resilience, restoring degraded landscapes, and empowering communities to manage their resources sustainably.
Prof. Joseph Terlumun, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, said this at a workshop for the presentation and final validation of nine Strategic Catchment Management Plans under the ACReSAL Project.
“Our goal is clear: to strengthen climate resilience, restore degraded landscapes, and empower communities to manage their resources sustainably. The 20 Strategic Catchment Management Plans are at the heart of this effort.
“As we meet here in Abuja, millions of our fellow citizens in the 19 northern states and the FCT face tough daily battles—advancing deserts, unreliable rainfall, degraded farmlands, and shrinking water bodies.
“These are not abstract problems; they threaten the food on our tables, the income of our farmers and herders, and the stability of our communities.
“The ACReSAL Project represents Nigeria’s bold response to these challenges. As the anchor ministry, the Federal Ministry of Environment, working closely with the Ministries of Water Resources and Agriculture, is proud to lead this initiative,” he said.
The minister said the project provides a blueprint for integrated action by identifying priority areas, mobilising resources, and coordinating efforts across sectors and stakeholders.
Dr Joy Agene, World Bank Task Team Leader, said the gathering marked an important milestone in Nigeria’s collective efforts to strengthen sustainable water resources management and enhance climate resilience across critical catchments that many communities depend on.
“The World Bank recognises the immense dedication, technical expertise, and collaboration that have shaped the strategic documents being validated today.
“Effective catchment management is not only a technical endeavour; it is also a cornerstone for resilient livelihoods, ecological stability, and long-term development.
“The work you are validating represents the voices of communities, the insights of practitioners, and the commitment of government and development partners to safeguarding these critical landscapes.”
Agene said that as climate change continues to intensify pressure on water systems, it is essential that Nigeria’s strategies remain evidence-based, inclusive, and forward-looking.
“Today’s validation process is an opportunity to build consensus, refine priorities, and ensure that interventions are practical, sustainable, and aligned with national goals.
“The World Bank remains fully committed to supporting the government and all stakeholders in advancing integrated catchment planning,” she said.
Mr Abdulhamid Umar, National Project Coordinator for ACReSAL, said the effects of desertification, drying rivers, and degraded farmlands are not distant stories but realities affecting communities across northern Nigeria.
“A key pillar of this work has been the development of 20 Strategic Catchment Management Plans—our roadmap to restore watersheds, promote sustainable farming, and protect the environment for future generations,” Umar said.
He added that the catchment plans would also guide where ACReSAL invests next, including tree planting, improved water management, climate-smart agriculture, and quick-win interventions that deliver immediate benefits to households and farms.
Mr Chuka Ofodili, a consultant at Mecon Geology and Engineering Services Ltd, said the Malenda Catchment is a strategically important multi-state watershed spanning parts of Kwara, Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara states.
He said the catchment, anchored around the Malenda River system and its tributaries, drains into the River Niger corridor and supports irrigation agriculture, livestock production, inland fisheries, and rural water supply across upland and floodplain environments.
“Its savanna ecology, extensive floodplains, and forest reserves within the Borgu–Kontagora axis make it regionally significant for food security, biodiversity conservation, and flood regulation.
“The catchment’s role in sustaining agrarian livelihoods, regulating seasonal flows into the Niger system, and buffering climate variability positions it as a critical landscape for integrated watershed management and climate resilience planning in north-central and north-western Nigeria,” he said.
