By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
The Federal Government has renewed its drive to strengthen climate resilience nationwide, reaffirming commitment to the Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, stated this at the ACReSAL Mid-Term Review Steering Technical Committee meeting in Kaduna.
He said the project remains central to Nigeria’s response to climate change, particularly in addressing flooding, desertification, and water resource challenges.
Utsev noted that the ministry, through River Basin Development Authorities and Hydrological Services, will scale up watershed management, flood forecasting, early warning systems, and sustainable water infrastructure.
He described the mid-term review as timely, providing an opportunity to assess progress, identify gaps, and refine strategies to improve delivery.
The minister stressed the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to effectively integrate climate adaptation with water resource management.
He outlined key priorities to include improved water and landscape management, expanded access to climate and hydrological data, and ensuring long-term sustainability of interventions.
Also speaking, Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, said the ACReSAL project is already yielding measurable results in communities but called for stronger legal frameworks at the state level to sustain its impact.
Contributions were also made by representatives of Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security Aliyu Abdullahi, and the World Bank technical team.
The ACReSAL project, supported by the World Bank, targets environmental challenges in Nigeria’s semi-arid regions, particularly in the North, where desertification and erratic rainfall continue to threaten livelihoods.
Officials say sustained investment in climate resilience initiatives will be critical to protecting water resources, boosting agricultural productivity, and strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities.
