Benue State is to lead a group of 19 Northern Nigerian states set to benefit from a groundbreaking $700 million World Bank initiative known as the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project. This visionary endeavour is poised to combat the profound challenges of land degradation and climate change on a multi-dimensional scale.
The project coordinator, Victor Ama, unveiled this transformative development during the inauguration of Local Government Management Committees (LGPMCs) in Makurdi, highlighting the project’s mission to confront environmental issues stemming from climate change and suboptimal land-use practices in Northern Nigeria.
“The broader vision encompasses the implementation of robust practices and policies for ecological restoration, fostering a climate-resilient community. The project’s development objective is to amplify the adoption of sustainable landscape management practices in selected watersheds across Northern Nigeria, fortifying the country’s enduring framework for integrated climate-resilient landscape management,” Ama explained.
Acting on behalf of the Commissioner of Water Resources, Environment, and Climate Change, Ugwu Odoh, Ama emphasised that the ACReSAL endeavour will catalyse the restoration of one million hectares of degraded land in Northern Nigeria, aligning seamlessly with the Federal Government of Nigeria’s commitment to restore four million hectares of compromised land as part of a larger landscape restoration initiative set to be accomplished by 2030.
“The ACReSAL project is a beacon of hope for Northern Nigeria, a testament to our collective resolve to address the pressing issues of climate change and land degradation. With this initiative, we aim not only to restore our precious landscapes but to create a more resilient, sustainable future for generations to come,” he stated.
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