The Federal Government has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative to restore one million hectares of degraded land in Northern Nigeria through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.
The initiative was launched during a stakeholders’ engagement session on the ‘Development of Strategic Catchment Management Plans in Wetland Zones of Northern Nigeria’ held in Kano on Friday.
Abdulhamid Umar, National Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, explained that the restoration project aims to transform degraded lands in Northern Nigeria into productive, habitable, and cultivable spaces.
Umar emphasized the importance of collaborative catchment management plans in achieving the project’s objectives. “The strategic plan will facilitate ACReSAL to meet its Project Development Objective (PDO),” he explained.
The ACReSAL project aims to directly benefit 3.4 million people, with a focus on gender inclusivity, as nearly half of the beneficiaries will be women.
The project’s strategic catchment management plans will ensure the integration of social and economic needs with natural ecosystems, guaranteeing the long-term use of natural resources.
Umar explained that the plans would set the foundation 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 entire country’s long-term enabling environment for integrated climate-resilient landscape management,” he said.
Chuka Offodile, Managing Director of Mecon Geology and Engineering Services Ltd, assured stakeholders that the data gathered would guide both government and private entities interested in investing within the developed catchment areas.
“The development of the plan will help address the critical issue of food production and food security, which remains a top priority for the Federal Government,” Offodile stated.
The stakeholders present praised the Federal Government’s efforts, expressing optimism about the project’s potential to transform the region’s landscape.
