In a bold step toward sustainable development and environmental resilience, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has initiated a transformative programme aimed at improving the lives of 3.4 million Nigerians through the Agro Climatic Resilience in Semi Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project. The initiative focuses on tackling land degradation, enhancing climate resilience, and supporting livelihoods across 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Of the targeted beneficiaries, 1.68 million are women, highlighting the administration’s strong emphasis on gender inclusion, economic empowerment, and rural development. The ACReSAL project, supported by the World Bank, includes major interventions in land restoration, irrigation, climate smart agriculture, and catchment management.

At a stakeholders’ engagement held in Ilorin, Kwara State, it was revealed that over 178000 hectares of degraded land have already been reclaimed. This represents about 18 percent of the six year target to restore 1 million hectares by 2028, in line with Nigeria’s broader environmental commitment to recover 4 million hectares of land by 2030.

The project is being implemented through coordinated efforts that include watershed planning, community led investments, institutional strengthening, and rapid response mechanisms for climate emergencies. Catchment plans are currently under development for 11 river basins across seven northern states, ensuring that solutions are tailored to local ecological and socio economic realities.

The Ministry of Women Affairs has also partnered with the project to deploy gender specific impact tracking tools, enabling effective monitoring of how women are benefiting across the 19 participating states.

In addition to environmental restoration, the project aims to reduce poverty, improve food security, and promote peaceful coexistence among rural communities, particularly between farmers and herders. Interventions such as revolving community funds, support for cooperatives, and access to sustainable farming inputs are at the heart of the strategy.

President Tinubu’s leadership in driving this initiative underscores his administration’s commitment to long term solutions that address both environmental and human development challenges in the north. With ACReSAL, a foundation is being laid for resilient ecosystems, inclusive economic growth, and sustainable peace across Nigeria’s semi arid regions.