ACReSAL project faces scrutiny over land restoration reporting in Nigeria

Questions have been raised regarding the reporting accuracy of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project in Nigeria. The project, which aims to address land degradation and desertification across 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, is currently seeking an additional $500 million in World Bank financing.

Discrepancies have emerged in the reported hectares of restored land. In February 2025, agriculture expert adviser Cyril Bikom stated that ACReSAL had restored 160,000 hectares. However, by October 2025, National Project Coordinator Abdulhamid Umar reported to a Federal Technical Committee that the figure had risen to over 800,000 hectares, representing an increase of 640,000 hectares in approximately eight months.

Critics are examining whether these rapid increases in reported figures represent comparable stages of environmental recovery or if they reflect issues with how environmental achievements are measured. The accuracy of these metrics is considered critical, as land restoration serves as a primary justification for the proposed expansion of the project's funding.