The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project has commenced its pre-midterm review to evaluate progress recorded since its implementation across the 19 participating states in Nigeria.

Ibrahim Kabir, chairman of the state coordinators of ACReSAL, said the review was a means of assessing their performance and providing input to the federal project management unit for onward communication to the World Bank.

Mr Kabir stated this on Monday in Jos at the commencement of an eight-day pre-midterm review meeting.

The chairman, who is also the state coordinator of ACReSAL in Bauchi, said the project, which commenced three years ago, has a six-year lifespan.

He explained that it was pertinent to hold a pre-midterm review to assess achievements, challenges, and key indicators related to land restoration, climate-resilience interventions, watershed management, and community-level environmental improvements.

“These pre-midterm reviews are procedures for all World Bank implementation projects to enable us to review if set targets in the 19 states and the FCT have been achieved.

“It is meant to identify gaps and how such would be tackled and align emerging issues as regards agriculture, environment and water resources with current issues on ground,” he said.

According to him, 70 per cent of the $700 million earmarked for the project had been expended.

Similarly, Garba Gonkol, project coordinator at Plateau ACReSAL, said the project, since its implementation in Plateau, had significantly impacted people’s lives.

Peter Gwom, Plateau commissioner for environment, in his remarks, said the ACReSAL project was already delivering significant benefits to participating states.

Mr Gwom listed the benefits as restoration of degraded landscapes, improved water resources, watershed management, and strengthened agricultural productivity.

The commissioner further said the project had also created green jobs and increased environmental awareness, among other things.

He commended ACReSAL for aligning perfectly with the Plateau government’s vision of building a greener, safer, and more prosperous state.

Abdulhamid Umar, ACReSAL national project coordinator, was represented by Abdulaziz Abubakar.

The pre-midterm review commenced on December 8 and would end on December 13.

(NAN)