The Federal Government through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, has inaugurated a stakeholders’ engagement aimed at restoring one million hectares of degraded land in 10 States.
Mr. Abdulhamid Umar, the National Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, said this on Friday, August 15, 2025, in Lokoja, Kogi State, at a stakeholders’ engagement for the development of 11 Strategic Catchment Management Plans (SCMPs).
Umar, represented by Mr. Shettima Adams, said the 10 ACReSAL states are Kogi, Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, Plateau, Benue, Bauchi, Kano, Nasarawa, and FCT.
He said the project was designed to promote long-term transformation, restore dignity to drylands, rebalance ecosystems, and strengthen the resilience of millions of people across northern Nigeria.
Umar said the project would impact over 3.4 million direct beneficiaries.
According to him, the meeting is for the development of Sarkin-Powa-Kaduna, Okwa-Mada, Gurara-Gbako, Lokoja-Niger, and Aloma-Ebonyi catchments.
Umar said the engagement brought together strategic stakeholders from the 10 ACReSAL states, aimed to derive a shared vision for the purpose of the project.
“The engagement will also consider the opportunities and challenges in the catchments, which will form part of the catchment management plan.
“Catchment management plans are critical for sustainable development, as they provide a framework for managing natural resources, mitigating environmental challenges, and promoting social and economic development.
“The plans will be segregated into short, medium, and long-term plans, ensuring that the ACReSAL project achieves its objectives of restoring one million hectares of degraded land and impacting over 3.4 million direct beneficiaries,” Umar said.
He added that the project would also ensure that women and girl-child benefit from the project and are integrated fully into society.
“With the stakeholders’ engagement, Nigeria is one step closer to achieving sustainable development and environmental sustainability,” he said.
Umar urged stakeholders to make meaningful contributions to the document and ensure that their concerns are integrated into the plan.
He also expressed gratitude to the World Bank and the Federal Government of Nigeria for their support and guidance in implementing the ACReSAL project.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Environment who is the Chairman, State Steering committee for the project, Mr. Olusegun Joseph, praised the selection of Lokoja for the ACReSAL stakeholders’ engagement.
Joseph, who declared the engagement open on behalf of Gov. Ahmed Ododo, reaffirmed the governor’s commitment to supporting the project.
He described ACReSAL as a transformative initiative to tackle environmental challenges and climate vulnerability.
He urged stakeholders to share practical knowledge and corporate solutions to address environmental issues, emphasising the importance of sustainable environmental management and climate resilience.
The commissioners commended the governor’s vision and commitment to the environmental sector and ACReSAL project.
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator, Mrs. Ladi Jato, emphasised the shared commitment to environmental restoration and sustainable resource management.
She highlighted the project’s achievements in Kogi including restoring 11,064 hectares of degraded land through gully remediation works.
“Increasing water storage capacity by 800 cubic meters through water harvesting initiatives.
“Enhancing agricultural productivity and livelihoods through dry season farming support, and restoring over 3,000 hectares through agroforestry and tree-planting activities,” she said.
Jato expressed confidence that the project would restore and safeguard the ecosystem for present and future generations.
The Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo, who represented the Rogan of Eggan, Alhaji Mohammed Alhassan, pledged the traditional institution’s support for the project’s implementation.
Other stakeholders present at the meeting include Kogi State Commissioners for Agriculture and Water Resources, project coordinators and traditional rulers from the 10 states.
By Stephen Adeleye