The Federal Government is set to partner with the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project to restore degraded lands and promote sustainable livelihoods across semi-arid regions in Nigeria.
ACReSAL, a World Bank–funded initiative, is designed to address land degradation and climate change in 19 northern states.
The resolution was reached during the Federal Technical Committee (FTC) meeting of the ACReSAL Project, held at the Federal Ministry of Environment in Abuja on Wednesday. The meeting brought together key stakeholders to review the project’s progress and assess its Annual Work Plan for the next implementation phase.
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Mr. Mahmud Kambari, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, described the gathering as a defining moment in Nigeria’s drive for environmental sustainability and community resilience.
“As we confront the realities of climate change, drought, and food insecurity, our shared vision through ACReSAL is transforming into concrete action.
“This plan embodies our collective responsibility to restore degraded lands, strengthen livelihoods, and secure a sustainable future for millions of Nigerians,” Kambari said.
Also speaking, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, reaffirmed the ministry’s support for the project.
“The ACReSAL project aligns perfectly with our mission to strengthen food security through climate-smart agriculture.
“By promoting drought-tolerant crops, soil restoration, and improved farming practices, we are empowering smallholder farmers and building resilience in rural communities,” Ogunbiyi said.
In his remarks, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, underscored the project’s importance in protecting Nigeria’s water ecosystems and improving sanitation in semi-arid regions.
“ACReSAL offers a comprehensive approach to managing our fragile water systems through watershed rehabilitation, sustainable irrigation, and rainwater harvesting.
“We are not only preserving water resources but also enhancing public health and agricultural productivity,” Pheelangwah said.
The National Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, Mr. Abdulhamid Umar, presented the project’s progress and impact across the participating states.
He said ACReSAL’s interventions are technology-driven and include afforestation, reforestation, ecosystem restoration, erosion and flood control, livelihood initiatives, climate-smart agriculture, water management, capacity building, and policy development.
“Strategic catchment management, institutional strengthening, and environmental education initiatives are geared toward achieving long-term sustainability,” Umar said.
According to him, over 800,000 hectares of degraded land have been restored, while civil works are nearing completion in some states.
He added that 8,708,291 people have benefited from the project, including 4,120,649 women.
Umar also noted that ACReSAL has addressed several environmental challenges, including those that previously affected the Nguru Wetlands and Hadejia axis in the Northeast — now cited as examples of the project’s transformative impact.
The ACReSAL project aims to mitigate the impacts of climate change in northern Nigeria by restoring degraded lands, improving water management, increasing agricultural productivity, and promoting sustainable livelihoods.
The meeting ended with a call for sustained inter-ministerial collaboration to ensure the project continues delivering tangible benefits to communities most affected by desertification, drought, and land degradation.
