By Michael Daniel
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to addressing the challenges of climate change and food insecurity through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, a joint initiative of the Ministries of Environment, Water Resources and Sanitation, and Agriculture and Food Security.
This renewed resolve was underscored at the Federal Technical Committee (FTC) meeting of the ACReSAL project, held at the Federal Ministry of Environment in Abuja recently.
The meeting brought together Permanent Secretaries of the three implementing ministries, key Directors-General, senior government officials, and stakeholders to review the project’s progress and deliberate on its Annual Work Plan for the next implementation phase.
Delivering the opening address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Mahmud Adam Gambari, described the gathering as “a defining moment in Nigeria’s pursuit of environmental sustainability and community resilience.”
“As we confront the realities of climate change, drought, and food insecurity, our shared vision through ACReSAL is transforming into concrete action,” he said. “This plan embodies our collective responsibility to restore degraded lands, strengthen livelihoods, and secure a sustainable future for millions of Nigerians.”
Representing the agriculture sector, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, reaffirmed his ministry’s full support for ACReSAL’s objectives, noting its alignment with the government’s broader food security agenda.
“The ACReSAL project aligns perfectly with our mission to strengthen food security through climate-smart agriculture,” he stated.
“By promoting drought-tolerant crops, soil restoration, and improved farming practices, we are empowering smallholder farmers and building resilience in rural communities. Together, we can ensure that our agricultural sector continues to thrive despite environmental challenges.l,” he added.
On his part, Mr. Richard Philaangwa, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, highlighted the project’s role in protecting Nigeria’s fragile water ecosystems and improving sanitation standards.
“ACReSAL offers a comprehensive approach to managing our fragile water systems,” he noted.
“Through watershed rehabilitation, sustainable irrigation, and rainwater harvesting, we are not only preserving water resources but also enhancing public health and agricultural productivity. Our ministry remains committed to providing the technical leadership necessary to advance water security across the country,” he said.
The National Project Coordinator (NPC) of ACReSAL, Mr. Abdulhamid Umar, presented an update on the project’s implementation and impact. He disclosed that the project has restored over 800,000 hectares of degraded landscapes across participating states, with several civil works nearing completion.
According to him, ACReSAL’s interventions—driven by technology and community participation—span afforestation, reforestation, erosion and flood control, ecosystem restoration, livelihood initiatives, water management, climate-smart agriculture, capacity building, and policy development.
Umar revealed that 8,708,291 Nigerians have directly benefited from the project, including 4,120,649 women, while many communities that once suffered from desertification, particularly around the Nguru Wetlands and Hadejia axis in the Northeast, are now cited as success stories of environmental recovery.
The Permanent Secretaries commended the collaborative efforts among the ministries and other stakeholders, affirming that the FTC’s resolutions would be forwarded to the Federal Steering Committee (FSC)—chaired by the Ministers of Environment, Water Resources and Sanitation, and Agriculture and Food Security—for further consideration and approval.
The ACReSAL project, funded in partnership with the World Bank, aims to mitigate the impacts of climate change in northern Nigeria by restoring degraded lands, improving water resource management, boosting agricultural productivity, and promoting sustainable livelihoods.
The meeting concluded with a unified call for stronger inter-ministerial collaboration to ensure that ACReSAL continues to deliver measurable results in communities hardest hit by desertification, drought, and land degradation.
