The Federal Government of Nigeria renews its commitment to restoring more degraded lands for environmental sustainability in the country. The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, gave this assurance at the Stakeholders’ Engagement of the Federal and States Steering Committee by the Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) on December 21, 2023, in Abuja. He also says seven million lands were degraded in the country which requires collaborative efforts between relevant stakeholders to enable ACReSAL make progress in the restoration of degraded lands.
The Federal Government of Nigeria renews its commitment to restoring more degraded lands for environmental sustainability in the country. This high level engagement on building resilience for communities and restoring degraded landscapes was held between the Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), the federal ministry of environment, and its agency in Abuja on December 21, 2023. The Nigerian Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal emphasized collaborative efforts and continued that efforts should be concentrated on sub nationals, the drying up of the lake Chad, protection of forest and crimes against wildlife.
« I think we have a very serious climate crisis so we need ACReSAL with all the support we can get to try to recabar our land, recabar our water weave, recabar our water Forest and the rest of it. »
Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment – Nigeria
The project is being implemented in 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Emphasis is on the assessments of the project, strengthening collaboration for effective delivery with the state government taking ownership to deepen action on building resilience and adaptation.
« This project in my opinion has given a better insight to those states that lack the understanding of the implementation processes here in ACReSAL but this implementation process is a continuous exercise at the federal level. we are not only going to stay in Abuja, we will be going round the state on an implementation visit to ensure that states which are not doing well are helped”.
Abdulhamid Umar, National project coordinator, ACRESAL – Nigeria
Globally, the World Bank has continued to deepen its commitment to climate change, resilience, adaptation and mitigation. The World Bank has offered 700 million dollars for building resilience and restoration of the dreaded landscape in the 19 northern states including the federal capital territory.
