The Federal Government has reclaimed over 178,000 hectares of degraded land across 19 northern states through the World Bank-backed Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.
The National Project Coordinator, Abdulhamid Umar, announced this during a recent retreat in Lagos.
Read Also: Greening Northern Nigeria: ACReSAL Retreat sparks new drive for Climate Resilience
He stated that the land recovery is part of efforts to attains to the project’s target of restoring one million hectares of degraded land over a six-year period.
“The ACReSAL project addresses the devastating effects of climate change, especially desert encroachment and land degradation in the northern region,” Umar told journalists. “So far, we have reclaimed 178,235 hectares. This is a significant milestone towards achieving our long-term goal of restoring one million hectares of land,” he said.
Agro Climate News reports that ACReSAL projects is conceived by the world Bank to restore degraded lands and save the environment, with a target of restoring 1 million hectares of degraded land by 2028, contributing to the Federal Government’s broader goal of restoring 4 million hectares by 2030.
The initiative, launched to tackle environmental degradation and improve livelihoods in the Sahel and savannah regions which benefited over 10 million people in Nigeria.
In addition, the project also aims to increase the adoption of climate-resilient landscape management practices and benefit 3.4 million direct project beneficiaries.
Umar, further said the project’s interventions includes dryland restoration, climate-resilient agriculture, infrastructure and community-led environmental actions which have led to increased agricultural productivity and food security in beneficiary communities.
“In just three years, over one million Nigerians have directly benefited from the project’s interventions, while more than 10 million people have been impacted indirectly,” he added.
The coordinator, highlighted that plans are being made to ensure the sustainability of the project beyond its initial funding cycle, including institutional reforms, community ownership strategies, and the enactment of enabling legal frameworks in participating states.
The Task Team Leader of ACReSAL and Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank, Dr Joy Iganya Agene, during her speech at the retreat described the project as a critical step in Nigeria’s journey towards building climate resilience.
“The results we’re seeing are a reflection of robust planning and land preparation strategies. With continued commitment, we’re optimistic that 60 to 70 per cent of the total target will be achieved in the next year,” Dr Agene expressed.
She reiterated the the World Bank’s commitment to helping Nigeria mitigate the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities and praised the federal government and state governors for their support.
