Abdullahi Sule: ACReSAL is Beacon of Hope for Nigeria’s Agricultural Sector

Bennett Oghifo

The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project has been described as a beacon of hope for national agricultural development and landscape restoration in semi-arid regions like Nasarawa State.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the joint World Bank, Food and Agricultural Organisation and Federal Government of Nigeria Hybrid Implementation Support Mission for the ACReSAL Project, Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Sule Abdullahi A. Sule, represented by his deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, emphasized the significance of ACReSAL in addressing pressing challenges facing the agriculture sector.

Through ACReSAL, a World Bank supported agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Government intends restoring one million hectares of degraded land in the northern part of the country. A total of Four million hectares of degraded land is set for broader landscapes restoration by 2030. The Project will also help reduce the vulnerability of millions of the extreme poor people in northern Nigeria, strengthening their own roles in achieving environmental sustainability.

With ACReSAL, the Federal Government strategises checking the menace of desertification, restoring degraded lands, developing special ecosystems and catalysing sustainable agricultural production in the 19 northern states as well as the FCT, Abuja.

In speaking for the state Governor, Dr. Akabe explained that: “Nasarawa State, like every other state in the nation’s semi-arid region, experiences the adverse effects of climate change, which threatens our security and livelihoods. Through collaborative efforts and innovative approaches like ACReSAL, we have the opportunity to build community resilience and ensure sustainable agricultural practices.”

ACReSAL project will not only help reduce the vulnerability of millions of extremely poor people in the region but also empower them to play an active role in achieving environmental sustainability. A positive uniqueness of the project is its community-driven approach to setting up its projects. Projects are tailored towards meeting the specific needs of the communities. These communities are forefront in understanding, owning, protecting and defending projects, making them sustainable in the long run.

The Nasarawa State Governor applauded ACReSAL describing it as embodying the spirit of partnership and cooperation, bringing together government agencies, development partners, people from academia, local communities, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and all to find solutions to our shared environmental challenges.”

He was optimistic that there would be beneficial dividend in the Agricultural sector as states collaborate on the ACReSAL Project. He enthused: “together, we will leverage the power of technology, research, and community engagement to transform our agricultural landscapes and secure a better future for generations to come.

He counselled: As we embark on this important project implementation journey, let us remain steadfast in our resolve, mindful of the impact of our actions, and responsive to the needs of our farmers and the community.”

Dr. Joy Iganya Agene, Senior Environmental Specialist, World Bank Nigeria and Task Team Leader for the ACReSAL Project, explained that the aim of the mission was to assess implementation of ACReSAL catalysed activities in the 19 Northern states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that are participating in the project. The team would visit communities, inspect lands that have been marked for restoration and to carry out activities under the Community Resolving Fund (CRF).

She put it on record that Nasarawa is one of the bright sparks among the states executing the ACReSAL project. In her view, ACReSAL would not be possible without the support of the leadership of Nasarawa state.

She disclosed that Nasarawa state will be one of the first states to qualify for the second phase of the ACReSAL Investment. According to her, for a state to access the fund, it has to show evidence of compliance with requisite parameters. This is possible through appraising demonstrable commitment and technical capacity to carry out necessary interventions.

The purpose of the funding is to cushion the impact of climate change, help build the capacity of vulnerable communities to adapt to climate change and allow water to take its natural course in the state.

In his remarks, Mr. Abdulhamid Umar, the National Project Coordinator for the ACReSAL Project, noted that the mission is in Nasarawa state to authenticate project implementation results so far and to see concrete deliverables of the four components of the ACReSAL Project.

Mr. Precious Agbesor, a representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), commended the World Bank and Federal Government of Nigeria for the partnership. He noted that component B of the ACReSAL Project (Community Climate Resilience) is the heart of the project, and FAO is supporting ACReSAL under this component to restore 350,000 hectares of degraded land.

Also speaking, Dr. Napoleon Gyobe Elias, the Nasarawa State ACReSAL Project Coordinator, outlined state-specific activities designed to enhance adaptive capacities and promote sustainable growth in the state.