By Ejire Folakunmi
The Federal Government has initiated moves to transform the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project into a permanent institutional framework to sustain its gains.
At a high-level meeting held at the Federal Ministry of Environment in Abuja, key ministers overseeing the project agreed on the need to transition ACReSAL from a time-bound initiative into a lasting national structure.
The meeting brought together the Chairman of the ACReSAL Federal Steering Committee and Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal; the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev; and the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.
The ministers reached a consensus on the importance of preserving the project’s achievements in landscape restoration and community resilience beyond its current lifespan.
Mallam Lawal emphasised that the knowledge gained from the implementation of ACReSAL should serve as a long-term blueprint for environmental sustainability in Nigeria.
Prof. Utsev stressed the need for immediate institutionalisation through the establishment of a strong federal component to provide oversight for sustainability strategies.
On his part, Sen. Abdullahi highlighted the cost-effectiveness of federal investment in the states, noting that the project has delivered significant impact at the grassroots level, thereby justifying the need for a permanent institutional presence.
The ministers also noted that the World Bank has ranked ACReSAL among the best-performing projects in its Nigeria portfolio, providing a strong foundation for the upcoming Mid-Term Review (MTR).
According to them, the MTR will assess the project’s performance against its development objectives and results framework, while helping to refine strategies for achieving land restoration targets.
To strengthen ongoing efforts, the ministers discussed expanding collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to support farmers with climate-smart agriculture and resilience-building techniques.
They said the partnership would help bridge the gap between research and practical farming, ensuring sustainable productivity gains.
The ministers also considered the need for additional financing to scale up the project’s impact, particularly in reaching more vulnerable communities and accelerating Nigeria’s climate resilience goals.
They noted that increased funding would enable participating states to expand restoration activities and achieve broader results.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to establishing a permanent agency to drive the sustainability of ACReSAL’s achievements, while positioning the project as a model for multi-sectoral collaboration.
The Mid-Term Review meeting is scheduled to hold in Kaduna, Kaduna State, with participants expected from the three ministries, commissioners and permanent secretaries from the 19 participating states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as representatives of the World Bank and other stakeholders.