World Bank Allocates $500M to Nigeria for Agricultural Resilience

The World Bank has approved a $500 million financing package for Nigeria under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project. This funding is intended to address flooding, restore degraded agricultural land, and reduce competition over natural resources in northern communities.

The project aims to restore 1.4 million hectares of land and benefit around 6.6 million people by 2031. It will support climate adaptation, water management, and agricultural productivity across 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The initiative is expected to improve soil health, increase household incomes, and reduce conflicts between farmers and herders. The ACReSAL programme began in 2022 and has already reached over 4.4 million beneficiaries.

World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, stated that the funding would expand interventions that enhance livelihoods and food security. The project is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with other federal ministries.