Director of Urban Development Leads Ministry 's stakeholder Engagement on Land Restoration.

 The Director of Urban Development from the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development, TPL. Umar Lawal Tanko, was among the key participants at a 10 days stakeholder engagement workshop. The meeting, organized by the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, was held to develop a Strategic Catchment Management Plan.

The workshop brought together representatives from ten Northern states to focus on restoring degraded land and strengthening resilience in semi-arid and urban areas. Discussions centered on five key catchments: Lokoja-Niger, Okwa-Mada, Sarkin-Powa-Kaduna, Gurara-Gbako, and Aloma-Ebonyi. The primary aim was to create actionable plans for sustainable development and natural resource management.

The program sought to identify mineral, ecosystem, and land resources while exploring management strategies, challenges, and solutions. The goal is to develop effective policies for the proper utilization of these resources.

Speaking at the event, the National Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, Abdulhamid Umar, stated that the engagement was crucial for developing plans for these five catchments. He explained that the initiative is designed to promote sustainable development, restore degraded lands, and strengthen the resilience of millions of people across Northern Nigeria.

“The engagement also considers the opportunities and challenges in the catchments, which will form the basis of the Catchment Management Plan,” Umar said. “These plans are critical for sustainable development as they provide a framework for managing natural resources, mitigating environmental challenges, and promoting social and economic development.”

The plans will be segmented into short, medium, and long-term strategies to ensure the ACReSAL project achieves its objectives of restoring millions of hectares of degraded land and impacting 3.4 million direct beneficiaries.

Umar further explained that the ACReSAL project is designed to promote long-term transformations, restore the dignity of drylands, rebalance ecosystems, and strengthen community resilience. He emphasized that the project would ensure women and girls benefit and are fully integrated into all activities.

With guidance from the World Bank and support from the Federal Government, the ACReSAL project is poised to significantly impact the lives of millions of Nigerians. During the meeting, stakeholders were urged to make meaningful contributions to ensure their concerns were integrated into the final plan.

The workshop detailed specific catchment compositions. For instance, the Akwa-Mada catchment comprises six states: the FCT, Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, and Kaduna. Nasarawa State falls under this catchment and includes all Local Government Areas except Obi, Awe, Keana, Wamba, and Nasarawa Eggon.

Resources from each LGA were identified, and their economic viability and associated challenges were examined to propose practical solutions. Through this collaborative engagement, Nigeria moves a step closer to achieving sustainable development and environmental sustainability.

The Ministry’s participation in the ACReSAL project offers significant benefits. The development of a strategic catchment management plan provides a robust framework for the Ministry to integrate sustainable land and water management practices into its urban and regional planning.

The focus on building resilience in semi-arid and urban areas directly supports the Ministry's core mandate. Furthermore, the initiative will generate valuable data on natural resources, ecosystem challenges, and restoration techniques. This knowledge will inform the Ministry’s decision-making process, enabling evidence-based policies for land administration and urban development.

By integrating these benefits, the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development can significantly advance its goals of promoting sustainable land use, enhancing urban resilience, and ensuring equitable access to natural resources.