The Federal Government has revealed nine strategic catchment management plans designed to restore degraded landscapes and protect vital water resources.across Northern Nigeria. 

This follows the official validation that these plans are a core component of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project supported by the World Bank and implemented by the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the ministries of Water Resources and Agriculture.

During a high-level workshop in Abuja, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, stated that the environmental crisis in the region has moved beyond a theoretical threat to a daily reality. 

He noted that advancing deserts, erratic rainfall, and shrinking water bodies are directly eroding agricultural productivity and deepening poverty across 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). 

Lawal emphasised that the ACReSAL project represents Nigeria’s most comprehensive response to this emergency, providing a detailed roadmap torestore watersheds and strengthen sustainable resource management.

The nine validated plans cover critical ecological zones, including Malenda, Oshin-Oyi, Gurara-Gbako, and Hawul-Kilange, spanning states such as Adamawa, Kano, Kaduna, and Borno. 

The National Coordinator of ACReSAL, Abdulhamid Umar, explained that these boundaries are designed around ecological systems rather than political borders to ensure more effective management. 

The framework will now guide future investments in tree planting, climate-smart agriculture, and improved water management. 

World Bank representative Henrietta Alhassan reaffirmed the bank’s commitment, noting that these plans are fundamental for stabilising ecosystems and supporting long-term economic development for millions of rural households.

Source: This Day Live
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