by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Federal Government of Nigeria on Thursday rallied State Governments and the World Bank to accelerate the implementation of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.
The call came as stakeholders convened in Kaduna for the project’s mid-term review to assess progress, identify gaps and chart the way forward.
Minister of Environment-cum Chairman of the Federal Steering Committee, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, in a remark, said the review was a decisive moment to ensure the project delivers tangible impact.
He stressed that the exercise was not ceremonial but a critical evaluation of performance halfway into the project lifecycle.
Lawal said ACReSAL has recorded notable progress since inception, with interventions spanning land restoration, afforestation, watershed rehabilitation and livelihood support across participating states and the FCT.
According to him, thousands of beneficiaries are already experiencing early gains, while institutional structures have been strengthened and procurement processes advanced.
He, however, warned that the project remains at its midpoint and must be accelerated to meet its ambitious targets, but noted that, “We must deepen implementation, strengthen monitoring and ensure that every resource committed delivers maximum impact.”
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, represented by Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, said the state has recorded significant milestones under the project.
He disclosed that Kaduna has identified 22,435 hectares of degraded land for restoration using geospatial mapping technologies.
The governor added that 500 women, youths and school feeding vendors have been trained in biomass briquette production to reduce deforestation and boost livelihoods.
He further said over 160 kilometres of drainage channels have been desilted to tackle urban flooding, alongside the unveiling of a 10-year climate change policy to institutionalize sustainability.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, described ACReSAL as “critical to food security,” noting that land restoration directly impacts agricultural productivity.
Also, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumun Utsev, emphasised the link between land degradation and water scarcity, stressing the need to strengthen watershed management.
Stakeholders at the meeting unanimously called for stronger collaboration, faster implementation and greater accountability in the second-phase of the project.
They agreed that bridging the gap between ambition and results would require sustained coordination, innovation and commitment from all partners.
ACReSAL project is a flagship intervention aimed at restoring degraded landscapes, strengthening climate resilience and improving livelihoods across northern Nigeria.