By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, a flagship initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria in partnership with the World Bank, recorded significant milestones during its Mid-Term Review held in Kaduna State from 15 to 17 April 2026.
The Mid-Term Review convened key stakeholders, including Honourable Ministers, State Commissioners, development partners, and technical experts, to assess progress, identify implementation gaps, and strengthen delivery strategies across the 19 participating states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The high-level engagement was graced by the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation,Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev; the Honourable Minister of Environment,Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal; and the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security,Senator Abubakar Kyari, underscoring the Federal Government’s strong commitment to the success of the project.
ACReSAL is a six-year, multi-sectoral project designed to address land degradation, improve water resource management, enhance climate resilience, and strengthen livelihoods across Northern Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Honourable Minister of Environment who doubles as the Chairman of Federal Steering Committee, described the Mid-Term Review as a critical milestone for evaluating progress and ensuring the project remains on track to achieve its development objectives. He emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration between federal and state actors in delivering impactful and measurable outcomes.
Since inception, ACReSAL has recorded commendable achievements across participating states, particularly in land restoration, afforestation, watershed management, and community-based livelihood interventions, contributing significantly to environmental sustainability and improved socio-economic conditions in beneficiary communities.
Presentations on the 19 participating states highlighted measurable progress in, Restoration of degraded lands and ecosystems, Sustainable water and watershed management, Strengthening community resilience to climate change, Institutional capacity building and governance and Community-driven livelihood support initiatives.
In a key highlight of the event, the Honourable Commissioner representing Taraba State Hajiya Aishat A. Barde delivered the Vote of Thanks on behalf of the 19 participating states, expressing appreciation to the Federal Government, The Governors , World Bank, FPMU and all stakeholders for their continued support and partnership.She reaffirmed their commitment and readiness to scale up impacts across the 19 Northern States.
The Review also provided an opportunity to deliberate on the proposed additional financing framework, focusing on the current status of the financing structure, eligibility criteria for states, and modalities for participation by state governments.
Emphasis was placed on the need for states to demonstrate commitment through counterpart funding, enactment of enabling legislation, and the establishment of dedicated ACReSAL agencies.
Notably, Taraba State was cited as a reference point for its proactive approach in upgrading its State Project Management Unit to a full-fledged agency and ensuring adequate counterpart funding for the effective implementation of Resettlement Action Plans. This achievement reflects the strong leadership of His Excellency, Agbu Kefas, and the state’s commitment to environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
As the Mid-Term Review advanced, stakeholders expressed optimism that its outcomes would inform strategic improvements, accelerate implementation, and strengthen the overarching goal of building a climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable Northern Nigeria.