The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling climate change, land degradation, and food insecurity through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, which continues to yield measurable progress across northern Nigeria.
This resolve was underscored during the Federal Technical Committee (FTC) meeting of the ACReSAL project held at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja. The session brought together the Permanent Secretaries of the three implementing ministries—Environment, Water Resources and Sanitation, and Agriculture and Food Security—alongside key Director-Generals, Directors, and other stakeholders to assess the project’s implementation and review its Annual Work Plan for the next cycle.
In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Mahmud Adam Gambari, described the meeting as a defining moment in Nigeria’s pursuit of environmental sustainability and 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.”
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, emphasized the alignment of ACReSAL’s goals with national agricultural priorities.
“The ACReSAL project supports our mission to strengthen food security through climate-smart agriculture,” Ogunbiyi stated. “By promoting drought-tolerant crops, soil restoration, and improved farming practices, we are empowering smallholder farmers and building resilience in rural communities.”
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Richard Philaangwa, highlighted the project’s role in protecting water ecosystems and advancing public health.
“ACReSAL offers a holistic approach to managing our fragile water systems,” he noted. “Through watershed rehabilitation, sustainable irrigation, and rainwater harvesting, we are preserving vital water resources and improving sanitation standards.”
Presenting a progress report, the National Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, Mr. Abdulhamid Umar, disclosed that over 800,000 hectares of degraded landscapes have been restored under the initiative, with civil works nearing completion in several states.
He revealed that 8.7 million people, including over 4.1 million women, have directly benefited from ACReSAL interventions, which encompass afforestation, erosion control, ecosystem restoration, livelihood enhancement, climate-smart agriculture, and water management.
According to Umar, the project has transformed communities in the Nguru Wetlands and Hadejia axis of the Northeast, which now serve as models of successful environmental recovery.
The Permanent Secretaries commended the synergy among implementing ministries and partners, noting that the FTC’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Federal Steering Committee (FSC) chaired by the Honourable Ministers of Environment, Water Resources and Sanitation, and Agriculture and Food Security for further consideration.
The meeting concluded with a renewed call for sustained inter-ministerial collaboration to consolidate ACReSAL’s impact in mitigating desertification and enhancing livelihoods in semi-arid regions.
In a show of courtesy, the committee paid a visit to the Honourable Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, at the close of the meeting.
