Abuja – The Federal Government, in partnership with the World Bank and other stakeholders, has begun the validation of nine Strategic Catchment Management Plans aimed at promoting sustainable water resources management, restoring degraded landscapes, and enhancing climate resilience across multiple states in Nigeria.
At the Workshop for the Presentation and Validation of the Plans on Monday, Chuka Ofodile, Managing Director of Mecon Engineering and Services Ltd, explained that catchments represent natural watershed boundaries whose development should be guided by the water resources within them. He noted that factors such as geology, mineral deposits, population, culture, and religion also influence catchment development.
Ofodile emphasized that the initiative seeks to create economic zones centered on water resources while ensuring sustainable and long-term development. He highlighted the importance of local ownership through validation, stating that involvement of stakeholders ensures projects are monitored, evaluated, and sustained across generations, regardless of government changes. Technical committees made up of local stakeholders will guide the short-, medium-, and long-term implementation of projects.
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, stressed that the initiative addresses environmental challenges affecting millions, particularly in northern Nigeria, where desertification, degraded farmlands, shrinking water bodies, and unreliable rainfall threaten food security and livelihoods.
Lawal explained that the ACReSAL Project represents Nigeria’s strategic response to these environmental and climate-related challenges. The project aims to restore degraded landscapes, improve climate resilience, and empower communities to manage their natural resources sustainably.
Abdulhamid Umar, National Coordinator of the ACReSAL Project, represented by Communications Officer Awwal Wara, noted that the project is backed by $700 million from the World Bank and aims to combat desertification, degraded farmlands, and dwindling water resources across northern states. Eleven of the 20 Strategic Catchment Management Plans had already been validated, with the remaining nine—covering Malenda, Oshin-Oy, Gurara Gbako, Aloma-Konshisha, Benue-Mada, Sarkin-Pawa-Kaduna, Lungur-Gongola, Gaji-Lamurde, and Hawul-Kilange—now under review.
The plans cover ACReSAL states including Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, the Federal Capital Territory, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara. The documents incorporate community feedback, identify environmental challenges, and propose practical, locally-focused solutions such as tree planting, improved water management, and climate-smart agricultural practices.
Joy Agene, on behalf of the World Bank Task Team Leader, affirmed that the validation workshop represents a major step toward effective water resource management and climate resilience. She acknowledged the technical work behind the plans and emphasized that catchment management is crucial for ecological stability, resilient livelihoods, and sustainable development.
