Nigeria, through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape Project (ACReSAL), a World Bank-supported initiative, has successfully recovered over 178,000 hectares of degraded land across 19 northern states affected by climate change, according to the National Project Coordinator, Abdulhamid Umar.
The National Project Coordinator said reclaiming 178,235 hectares out of the one million target for six years is an achievement aimed at restoring one million hectares of arable land in the region.
“This project, supported by the World Bank, addresses severe climate change challenges, particularly the encroaching Sahara desert and land degradation in the 19 northern states, he said while speaking to journalists at a 5-day retreat organised by ACReSAL in Lagos.
“Our efforts aim to reverse land infertility caused by natural and human factors in a region with increasingly erratic rainfall.
“Our interventions, including dryland management, community-driven climate resilience activities, and agricultural support, have led to bumper harvests and improved livelihoods for over one million direct beneficiaries in just three years, with over 10 million indirect beneficiaries”, he stated.
Looking ahead, Umar addressed project sustainability beyond its initial six-year funding cycle, saying “our strategy includes community ownership, establishing legal frameworks at the state level, and infrastructure development to ensure longevity”.
Dr. Joy Iganya Agene, Task Team Leader for ACReSAL and Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank, underscored the project’s impact, stressing that ACReSAL represents a significant stride in Nigeria’s efforts to build climate resilience and restore degraded landscapes.
“The progress made demonstrates the effectiveness of strategic planning and land preparation,” Dr. Agene said.
She added that ACReSAL is optimistic about achieving 60-70% recovery of the targeted one million hectares in the coming year.
Both Umar and Dr. Agene emphasized the strong commitment and collaboration from the Nigerian government and state governors.