The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project has made significant strides in promoting environmental sustainability and improving community livelihoods in Bauchi State through the provision of water infrastructure and plant nurseries across three Local Government Areas (LGAs).

Clean Water Now a Reality for Rural Communities

ACReSAL recently commissioned and handed over three solar-powered integrated water schemes in the communities of Galambi, Bedoji, and Mai Ari, situated in Kirfi and Alkaleri LGAs. These systems provide clean, reliable water access for both humans and livestock, drastically reducing the hardship previously faced by residents who had to walk over 20 kilometers in search of potable water.

Community members report that with the new water facilities, fetching water now takes as little as 3–5 minutes, a development hailed as life-changing by local residents.

During the handover ceremony, ACReSAL’s Bauchi State Project Coordinator, Dr. Ibrahim Kabir, underscored the need for community ownership and local government support to ensure the sustainability of these projects. Local traditional leaders and council representatives pledged full cooperation in safeguarding and maintaining the infrastructure.

Greening Bauchi: 400 Trees Planted, Women Empowered

In a parallel effort to combat desertification and promote afforestation, ACReSAL has launched the “One Person, One Tree” campaign, planting over 400 economic tree seedlings in eight communities across the state. The initiative, executed in partnership with the Savannah Institute for Sustainable Development (SISDEV), aims to restore degraded land, enhance livelihoods, and mitigate climate change impacts.

Earlier efforts included the donation of 100 economic tree seedlings to women farmers during a training session at the Bauchi State College of Agriculture. This step aligns with ACReSAL’s mission to integrate gender empowerment into environmental conservation strategies.

Building Institutional Support for Long-Term Impact

In April 2025, ACReSAL convened a three-day stakeholder workshop for legislators, implementing agencies, and technical teams to review project milestones, clarify roles, and ensure coherent implementation across all 20 LGAs in Bauchi State.

Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y. Suleiman, pledged legislative support for ACReSAL, citing the state’s leadership in environmental reform and its commitment to passing the Waste Scavenging and Recycling Bill.

Meanwhile, the State Commissioners for Agriculture and Water Resources reaffirmed their ministries’ partnership with the project, emphasizing the need for sustainable land and water management.

The ACReSAL initiative continues to demonstrate how targeted investments in climate resilience, resource management, and community capacity-building can yield tangible benefits for rural populations, with Bauchi State emerging as a model of integrated landscape restoration in Nigeria.