THE Federal Government, through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, has announced its intention to restore one million hectares of degraded land in Northern Nigeria.
This initiative was revealed yesterday during a stakeholders’ engagement session focused on the “Development of Strategic Catchment Management Plans in Wetland Zones of Northern Nigeria,” held in Kano.
At the event, Abdulhamid Umar, the National Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, stated that the restoration project aims to convert degraded areas in Northern Nigeria into productive, livable, and cultivable land.
He emphasized that this is the first time the Nigerian government is implementing a catchment management plan of this size.
“This is the first occasion the Nigerian government is developing a catchment management plan of this magnitude,” Umar said. “This initiative is being supported with guidance from the World Bank through the International Development Association.”
The workshop attracted stakeholders from regions including Ngada West Chad, Yedseram-East Chad, Hadejia, and Katagun K-Gana catchments, and aimed to promote a collaborative approach to creating an ideal riparian catchment. Participants represented states such as Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Bauchi, and Kano.
Umar noted that the catchment management plans will be crucial for the success of the ACReSAL project.
“The strategic plan will enable ACReSAL to achieve its Project Development Objective (PDO),” he explained. “This will aid in the sustainable restoration of one million hectares of degraded land, making them cultivable, livable, and suitable for various uses, whether commercial, domestic, or other purposes.”
He added that the project is designed to directly benefit 3.4 million people, with nearly half of the beneficiaries being women.
“ACReSAL aims to reach 3.4 million direct beneficiaries, of which 1.68 million (49.41 percent) will be women,” Umar said.
The project’s strategic catchment management plans will facilitate the integration of social and economic needs with natural ecosystems, promoting sustainable long-term use of natural resources.
“Catchment management plans not only answer the questions of what, when, and where regarding catchment management, but they also provide scientifically-informed decisions for proactive strategies to prevent potential environmental challenges,” remarked Umar.
He explained that these plans will lay the groundwork for sustainable landscape management across five major hydrological areas in Northern Nigeria.
“The ultimate goal of ACReSAL’s Strategic Catchment Plan is to strengthen the enabling environment for integrated climate-resilient landscape management throughout the country,” Umar noted.
In his remarks, Chuka Offodile, Managing Director of Mecon Geology and Engineering Services Ltd, assured stakeholders that the data collected would inform both governmental and private sector investments in the developed catchment areas.
“The development of this plan will help tackle the pressing issue of food production and food security, which is a priority for the Federal Government,” Offodile stated.
The stakeholders present expressed their support for the Federal Government’s efforts, highlighting their optimism about the project’s potential to transform the region’s landscape.
One participant commented, “This initiative will make lands in frontline states cultivable, livable, and usable, which is a significant step toward solving our environmental issues.”
Funded with the support of the World Bank, the ACReSAL project is anticipated to substantially improve agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability in Nigeria’s semi-arid regions.