*4,000+ Hectares Revitalized, Millions Disbursed
By Faridat Salifu
The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) recently hosted the National Technical Support Mission to Address Agro-Climatic Resilience at the Sheraton Hotel in Abuja, marking a significant milestone in the endeavor to restore degraded lands.
The 8-day technical session, which started on December 8.and running until December 16, 2023, has witnessed united representatives from the 19 Northern States SPMUs and the FCT. The primary objective was to review progress reports from each SPMU and provide an overview of the support mission to Borno, Adamawa, Niger, and Ibadan.
During the presentation, key representatives emphasized the mission’s importance in stabilizing operations, providing guidance, and addressing challenges faced by the SPMUs. Dr. Joy I. Agene, the TTL ACRESAL, revealed plans for future biannual missions, covering crucial areas such as Monitoring and Evaluation, Procurement, Fiduciary matters, Agric actions, and policy matters.
A noteworthy achievement highlighted during the event was the successful restoration of 4,384 hectares of degraded land, surpassing the initial target of 1,000,000 hectares. Additionally, the World Bank has disbursed 12 percent of the $700 million project sum, complemented by a substantial contribution of N211,473,760 in counterpart funds from federal and state governments.
However, the mission did not shy away from addressing challenges, notably political interference. The leadership of the National Planning Commission (NPC) clarified that the World Bank is content with the project’s progress and anticipates the SPMUs to stabilize their operations by June 2024.
In conclusion, the mission served as a pivotal platform for the exchange of ideas and the identification of key areas for improvement in ongoing projects. Stakeholders now stand better equipped to navigate current and future challenges, advancing the collective pursuit of agro-climatic resilience in semi-arid landscapes.
