Federal Govt To Strengthen Climate Resilience, Flood Control

The federal government has restated its commitment to the effective implementation of the Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project aimed at restoring degraded land, strengthening climate resilience and improving livelihoods across the country.

Minister of water resources and sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, who serves as co-chairman of the ACReSAL steering committee, gave the assurance during the Mid-Term Review Steering Technical Committee meeting of ACReSAL held in Kaduna.

In a statement by his personal assistant on media and publicity, Terhemen Oraduen in Abuja yesterday, Prof. Utsev, said the project remained a priority for the ministry, adding that its agencies, particularly the River Basin Development Authorities and Hydrological Services would continue to support watershed management, flood forecasting, and early warning systems.

The minister noted that the mid-term review was taking place at a critical period in the life cycle of the project, providing an opportunity for stakeholders to assess progress, identify operational gaps and challenges and refine strategies to enhance impact.

“The meeting will strengthen collaboration across sectors and institutions, which is essential for achieving the desired outcomes of the project,” he said.

He listed priority areas for continued success, including deepening integrated water and landscape management, ensuring the availability of reliable hydrological and climate data for planning, and promoting sustainability and scalability of interventions.

The minister of environment and chairman of the ACReSAL steering committee, Malam Balarabe Abbas, commended the gains recorded so far and urged state governments to enact laws that would guarantee the sustainability of the project after its closure.

Presentations were also made by representatives of the Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani; minister of state for agriculture and food security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi and World Bank ACReSAL technical team lead, Dr. Joy Agene.