The World Bank has approved $500 million in financing for Nigeria to tackle flooding, restore degraded agricultural land and reduce conflicts between farmers, herders, and rural communities across the northern part of the country.
The funding, approved under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project, is expected to strengthen climate resilience, improve water management, and support agricultural productivity in 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to a statement obtained by The PUNCH from the World Bank’s website on Wednesday, the additional financing will support the restoration of 1.4 million hectares of land and benefit approximately 6.6 million people by 2031.
The financing will also support watershed rehabilitation, erosion control and improved management of natural resources in communities vulnerable to climate-related disasters.
“The World Bank has approved $500m in additional financing for the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project to help Nigeria scale up climate resilience, restore degraded landscapes, improve water management, and strengthen livelihoods across northern Nigeria.
“By 2031, this fund will help restore landscapes, rehabilitate watersheds, improve erosion and flood management, and build more resilient rural livelihoods, reaching 1.4 million hectares and benefiting 6.6 million people. This is expected to lead to an increase in household incomes, reduced farmer/community/herder conflicts, increases in vegetation health, reduced flooding and associated fatalities, improved soil health and agricultural productivity,” the statement read.
The World Bank explained that the intervention would build on the achievements of the existing ACReSAL project, which commenced in 2022 to address environmental degradation and climate vulnerabilities across northern Nigeria.
According to the bank, the programme has introduced sustainable landscape management practices on approximately 550,000 hectares and reached more than 4.4 million beneficiaries.
It added that the project had already exceeded its target for improved catchment management, providing a foundation for expanding climate adaptation investments.
The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, said the additional financing would enable the government to expand interventions that had demonstrated positive results in vulnerable communities.
“ACReSAL has demonstrated that investments in climate-resilient landscapes can improve livelihoods, strengthen food and water security, and help communities in the parts of Nigeria most vulnerable to climate shocks,” Verghis said.
“This additional financing will help scale up proven solutions, restore more degraded land, increase agricultural productivity, and strengthen institutions that can sustain these gains over the long term.”
The bank explained that the project was designed to address interconnected challenges affecting rural communities, including land degradation, declining agricultural productivity, water insecurity and competition over natural resources.
By improving access to productive land and water resources, the intervention is expected to reduce pressures contributing to disputes among farmers, herders and other community groups.
