Yemi Kosoko in Jos
The World Bank and the Federal Government have superior plans to implement 20 Strategic Catchment Management Plans (SCMPs) throughout 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as a part of efforts to fight environmental degradation, strengthen local weather resilience and safe Nigeria’s water sources for future generations.
Speaking on the Stakeholders’ Engagement for the Implementation of Strategic Catchment Management Plans, World Bank Task Team Leader and Senior Environmental Specialist, Dr. Joy Iganya Agene, described ACReSAL as basically a catchment administration mission designed to advertise built-in panorama administration past state and political boundaries.
Agene stated the plans symbolize the primary government-led watershed administration initiative undertaken at such scale in Nigeria and would supply a blueprint for sustainable administration of land, water and environmental sources.
According to her, environmental and hydrological techniques are interconnected, making collaboration amongst states and communities important for long-term sustainability.
“What you do upstream affects what happens downstream. There are no state limits when it comes to water resources and environmental management,” she stated, urging stakeholders to embrace a shared imaginative and prescient for defending the surroundings.
She additionally introduced that the World Bank had permitted an extra $500 million financing package deal for ACReSAL over the subsequent 4 years, bringing complete funding for the programme to about $1.2 billion, to make sure sustainability of ongoing investments and interventions.
Presenting the implementation overview of the Aloma-Konshisha Strategic Catchment Management Plan, Managing Director of MECON Geology and Engineering Services Ltd, Chuka Offodile, stated the catchment spans Benue, Kogi, Cross River, Ebonyi and Enugu States and faces rising threats from flooding, deforestation, erosion, land degradation and water air pollution.
He disclosed that forest cowl within the catchment declined considerably between 2017 and 2024, whereas agricultural growth and settlement development continued to put stress on ecosystems and water sources.
Offodile stated the plan seeks to revive degraded landscapes, strengthen water sources administration, promote climate-smart agriculture, enhance livelihoods and improve catastrophe preparedness by means of coordinated interventions involving governments, improvement companions and communities.
He famous that profitable implementation would enhance water safety, enhance agricultural productiveness, scale back flood and drought dangers, restore biodiversity and strengthen local weather resilience throughout the catchment.
As the session drew to an in depth, stakeholders agreed that the problem earlier than Nigeria is now not planning however implementation.
With 20 strategic catchment plans validated, an extra $500 million in financing secured, and unprecedented collaboration amongst federal and state establishments, the main target now shifts to translating the blueprints into measurable outcomes.
For the World Bank, ACReSAL and taking part states, the last word purpose stays clear: restoring degraded landscapes, securing water sources, strengthening local weather resilience and making a more healthy surroundings for thousands and thousands of Nigerians in the present day and generations but unborn.
