Northern Nigeria Backs $500M ACReSAL Financing Initiative

The proposed $500 million additional financing for the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project has garnered significant support from stakeholders in northern Nigeria, as stated by Alhaji Abubakar Tsanni, Director General of the Think Nigeria First Initiative (TNFI), during a press conference in Abuja. Key supporters include governors from Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kebbi, Kaduna, Jigawa, Benue, and Plateau states, who have actively engaged with ACReSAL interventions.

Bauchi State has committed its counterpart funding for the next phase. Tsanni highlighted the project’s success, noting that women represent 47% of the 4.4 million direct beneficiaries and that university students in Kogi, Kebbi, and Plateau states are being trained in modern greenhouse farming.

He urged all stakeholders to publicly acknowledge the project's impact and called on the federal government and the World Bank to expedite the financing arrangement. So far, participating states have contributed N22 billion in counterpart funding, and a $9.5 million Community Revolving Fund is being repaid and re-lent.