Ododo declares ACReSAL workshop open, emphasizes collective action for environmental sustainability

By Ezurike Ugochukwu 

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to environmental sustainability and conservation.

Declaring the ACReSAL programme’s stakeholder workshop open in Lokoja, the governor reveals that the programme aims to develop strategic catchment management plans for various catchments in northern Nigeria, with the goal of restoring degraded lands, promoting sustainable land use, and strengthening the resilience of communities.

Represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Engr. Joseph Olusegun, Governor Ododo stated, “The ACReSAL Project is far more than intervention, it is a transformative mission.

“Through strategic catchment plan management, we are working to harmonize land use and empower communities not just as beneficiaries but as active custodians of their various environments.” He added that the engagement is a call to action and a call to proffer solutions to share practical knowledge that will define the environmental legacy that will be left behind. I hereby declare the Stakeholder Workshop open” he said.

The programme aims to develop strategic catchment management plans for the Sarkin-Powa-Kaduna, Okwa-Mada, Gurara-Gbako, Lokoja-Niger, and Aloma-Ebonyi catchments. These plans will serve as a blueprint for long-term transformation, restoring dignity to drylands, rebalancing ecosystems, and strengthening the resilience of millions of people across northern Nigeria.

The National Project Coordinator, Mr. Abdulhamid Umar, highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement in developing the catchment management plans. He noted that the plans will facilitate the ACReSAL project to meet its objectives, including restoring 1 million hectares of degraded land and impacting 3.4 million direct beneficiaries.

Barr. Ladi Jato, Kogi State Project Coordinator of ACReSAL Project, welcomed participants to the stakeholders’ engagement, emphasising the importance of collective efforts in protecting and preserving water resources and ecosystems. She stressed the need for active participation and contributions from stakeholders in shaping the Strategic Catchment Management Plans (SCMPs).

The Kogi State Government has made significant progress in implementing the ACReSAL project, including restoring 11,064 hectares of degraded land, increasing water storage capacity, and enhancing agricultural productivity and livelihoods through dry season farming support. The project has also restored over 3,000 hectares through agroforestry and tree-planting activities.

The stakeholders’ engagement is a significant milestone in the development of the SCMPs, which will guide the identification of key catchment areas and challenges, and provide a sustainable and integrated framework for restoring degraded landscapes. The objective of the SCMPs includes strengthening knowledge and data, raising awareness and promoting advocacy, fostering sustainable and cooperative catchment management, enhancing institutional capacity, and facilitating access to global climate finance.

With the support of the World Bank and the International Development Association (IDA), the ACReSAL project is poised to make a significant impact on the lives of millions of people in northern Nigeria. The project’s success will depend on the active participation and contributions of stakeholders, including Government Agencies, Local Communities, and Development Partners.