The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, a major initiative designed to combat flooding, water scarcity, and land degradation.
This was confirmed in a statement released on Friday and signed by Terhemen Oraduen, the Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev.
He said Utsev, who also serves as Co-Chairman of the ACReSAL Steering Committee, spoke at the ongoing Mid-Term Review Steering Technical Committee meeting in Kaduna.
In his address, the minister emphasised the need to accelerate implementation and deepen impact.
“Through the River Basin Development Authorities and Hydrological Services, the ministry will continue to play a key role in watershed management, flood forecasting, early warning systems, and sustainable water infrastructure,” he said.
He described the mid-term review as coming at a critical phase of the project, noting that it provides an opportunity for stakeholders to assess progress, identify gaps, and refine strategies.
“This meeting offers us the chance to take stock of progress made so far, assess the effectiveness of interventions, and identify operational challenges that may be limiting impact,” Utsev added.
According to him, strengthening collaboration across sectors and institutions will be crucial to achieving the project’s objectives, particularly in integrating climate adaptation with water resource management.
He outlined key priorities to include improving integrated water and landscape management, expanding access to reliable hydrological and climate data for planning and early warning, and ensuring the sustainability and scalability of interventions.
Also speaking, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, who chairs the ACReSAL Steering Committee, said the project is already making a measurable impact in communities, but stressed the need for long-term policy backing.
“States must enact laws that will guarantee the sustainability of ACReSAL interventions beyond the lifespan of the project,” he said.
The meeting featured presentations from representatives of Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, and the World Bank Technical Team Lead for ACReSAL, Dr Joy Agene.
The ACReSAL project, supported by the World Bank, is a flagship intervention aimed at addressing environmental challenges in Nigeria’s semi-arid regions, particularly in the North, where desertification and erratic rainfall continue to threaten livelihoods.
