In a bold push to transform Northern Nigeria’s fragile landscapes, the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project has kicked off a high-level retreat in Lagos, aimed at accelerating implementation and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Held from May 11th to 17th, the retreat themed “Strengthening Coordination and Advancing Effective ACReSAL Implementation” marks a turning point as the project reaches its mid-term milestone.
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With three years into the World Bank-supported initiative, stakeholders are gathering to take stock of progress, renew commitments, and fast-track solutions for the region’s pressing environmental and socio-economic challenges.
The week-long retreat brings together powerful voices in policy and development — including Ministers of Environment, Agriculture and Food Security, and Water Resources and Sanitation; World Bank Task Team leaders; Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries from the 19 Northern States and the FCT; project coordinators; and other key government and non-governmental players.
Hon. Minister of Environment, Malam Balaraba Abbas Lawal, who chairs the Federal Steering Committee of ACReSAL, underscored the project’s mission: “ACReSAL is more than a project — it is a lifeline for communities battling desertification, poverty, and food insecurity. Our focus is to build resilience, drive sustainability, and uplift livelihoods across Northern Nigeria.”
As discussions unfold, the retreat aims to sharpen understanding of project operations, build stakeholder capacity, and forge stronger collaboration among federal and state actors.
ACReSAL targets critical issues such as poor agricultural productivity, deforestation, and water scarcity — factors contributing to deepening poverty and displacement in the region. With fresh momentum from this retreat, the project is poised to deliver greener landscapes, stronger communities, and a more climate-resilient future.
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