Plateau State joins others to seek $500 million for ACReSAL project

Plateau State is one of eight northern states in Nigeria whose governors support an additional $500 million for the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.

Abubakar Tsanni, the Director-General of the Think Nigeria First Initiative (TNFI), shared this news at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.

He urged the federal government and the World Bank to finalize the financing deal quickly.

Tsanni noted that governors, traditional rulers, farmers, herders, and women’s groups in northern Nigeria back this financing because they have seen benefits in their communities.

He mentioned Plateau along with Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kebbi, Kaduna, Jigawa, and Benue states. He said the governors had either launched, inspected, or supported interventions under the project.

But the statement did not say if the Plateau State Government had officially backed the additional financing or promised any counterpart funding for the next phase.

Tsanni explained that ACReSAL helps improve livelihoods and promote climate-resilient farming practices like greenhouse farming.

He pointed out that university students in Plateau, Kogi, and Kebbi states benefit from training in modern greenhouse farming at their schools. However, he did not share which schools were involved or how many students were trained in Plateau.

The TNFI director-general added that women make up 47 percent of ACReSAL’s 4.4 million direct beneficiaries. This shows the project's reach among vulnerable groups and rural communities.

He gave examples from Wurno, where a farmer who worked on an irrigation scheme for 27 years said the project had brought back hope. He also mentioned Nguru, where herders and fishermen returned to a wetlands that had been dry for 12 years.

Tsanni revealed that the participating states had put together ₦22 billion as counterpart funding for the project.

He noted that a $9.5 million Community Revolving Fund was given to 381 communities. This fund is being paid back and re-lent to support more local projects.

He stated that Benue and Nasarawa states have set up agencies to ensure the project's assets are maintained.

Tsanni said that the federal ministers of environment, water resources, and agriculture had all taken part in ACReSAL’s mid-term review held in Kaduna.

He insisted that the call for extra financing is not asking for charity but is about securing steady investment through continuity, shared responsibility, and self-reliance.

He encouraged governors, traditional rulers, lawmakers, and community leaders in northern Nigeria to publicly express their support for the project and its benefits.

The proposed $500 million financing aims to enhance ACReSAL, but the statement did not give details on how the money would be spent, the approval status, or when it would be released.

For Plateau, more information on the proposed financing, the state’s official stance, and the specific projects expected in the next phase would clarify what this funding could mean for communities and beneficiaries in the state.