By Abbas Nazil
The Federal Government has charged stakeholders of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project to strictly adhere to its implementation guidelines in the 2025 work plan to strengthen efforts against climate change and food insecurity in Nigeria’s semi-arid regions.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment and Co-Chair of the Federal Technical Committee, Mahmud Adam Kambari, made the call during a meeting in Abuja to review the project’s achievements and 2025 work plan.
Kambari described the meeting as a crucial step in tackling pressing environmental challenges, including land degradation, water scarcity, flooding, and food insecurity.
He commended the World Bank for funding the project, which he said has made significant progress in restoring degraded landscapes, improving agricultural productivity, and building community resilience across 19 northern states and the FCT.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, co-chair of the committee, described ACReSAL as a beacon of hope in achieving food security and sustainable farming in Nigeria.
He noted that the project promotes drought-resistant crops and integrated land management, aligning with the ministry’s goals of increasing productivity while conserving natural resources.
Also, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, highlighted ACReSAL’s role in improving hydrological systems and water access through initiatives such as rainwater harvesting and ecosystem restoration.
The National Project Coordinator, Abdulhamid Umar, revealed that the project has restored 800,000 hectares of degraded land, benefiting over 8.7 million people, mostly women in rural communities.
He urged all participating ministries and agencies to ensure the interventions are protected and project resources used strictly for official purposes.
