The Federal Government, through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, has launched a comprehensive initiative to recover one million hectares of degraded land across 10 states, including Kogi.

This was disclosed at a stakeholders’ engagement in Lokoja for the development of Strategic Catchment Management Plans (SCMPs) covering Sarkin-Powa-Kaduna, Okwa-Mada, Gurara-Gbako, Lokoja-Niger, and Aloma-Ebonyi.

The National Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, Mr. Abdulhamid Umar, represented by Engr. Shettima Adams, said the initiative is designed to promote long-term transformation, rebalance ecosystems, restore dignity to drylands, and strengthen the resilience of millions of people in northern Nigeria.

Umar noted that the project would impact over 3.4 million direct beneficiaries and ensure inclusivity, with women and girls fully integrated into the programme.

Umar explained that 20 catchment management plans are being developed as the foundation of the project, adding that the plans will be structured into short, medium, and long-term goals.

He expressed gratitude to the World Bank and the Federal Government for their support in implementing the ACReSAL project.

In his address, Kogi State Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Environment and Chairman of the State Steering Committee, Hon. (Engr.) Joseph Oluwasegun, reaffirmed state government’s commitment to supporting the project.

He described ACReSAL as a transformative initiative to address climate vulnerability, urging stakeholders to share practical solutions that would ensure sustainable environmental management.

Earlier, the Kogi State Project Coordinator, Barr. Ladi Ahmed Jatto, stresses on the achievements already recorded in the state.

“These include the restoration of 11,064 hectares of degraded land through gully remediation, increasing water storage capacity by 800 cubic meters via water harvesting initiatives, supporting dry season farmingand restoring over 3,000 hectares through agroforestry and tree planting,” she said.

She stressed that inclusivity, knowledge sharing, and community engagement would remain central to the project’s success.

There were goodwill messages came from Commissioners for Water Resources and Agriculture, alongside traditional rulers led by the Maigari of Lokoja, represented by the Rogan of Eggan.

Participants at the engagement included stakeholders from the 10 ACReSAL states, federal and state ministries, academia and development partners.