Northern Nigerian stakeholders seek $500m for ACReSAL project

Stakeholders in northern Nigeria are advocating for a $500 million additional financing package for the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project. Abubakar Tsanni, Director-General of the Think Nigeria First Initiative (TNFI), stated that governors, traditional rulers, farmers, herders, and women’s groups support the funding due to observed community benefits.

Governors from Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kebbi, Kaduna, Jigawa, Benue, and Plateau states have been identified as supporters who have inspected or commissioned project interventions. Bauchi State has reportedly committed counterpart funding for the next phase. To date, participating states have released ₦22 billion in counterpart funding.

The project aims to improve livelihoods through climate-resilient agricultural practices, such as modern greenhouse farming, which has provided training to university students in Plateau, Kogi, and Kebbi states. ACReSAL reports reaching 4.4 million direct beneficiaries, with women accounting for 47 per cent of that total. Reported successes include the restoration of irrigation schemes in Wurno and the return of herders and fishermen to wetlands in Nguru that had been dry for 12 years.