The Federal Government, in partnership with the World Bank and other stakeholders, has begun validating nine Strategic Catchment Management Plans aimed at improving sustainable water resource management, restoring degraded landscapes, and strengthening climate resilience in several states across Nigeria.
Speaking at the workshop for the presentation and validation of the plans on Monday, Managing Director of Mecon Engineering and Services Ltd, Chuka Ofodile, described catchments as natural watershed boundaries whose development should be guided by the water resources within them.
According to him, these watershed boundaries function as economic zones driven primarily by water resources, which ultimately shape the future of communities within the catchment areas.
Ofodile explained that other factors such as geology, mineral deposits, and the social and cultural characteristics of communities also influence the development of catchments.
He noted that planning for catchment management often goes beyond political boundaries, as river systems and water reservoirs do not follow state or even international borders.
The initiative, he said, is designed to promote sustainable development by creating economic zones centred on water resources and integrated planning.
He added that although Nigeria has implemented several national development plans in the past with positive outcomes, continuous planning, monitoring, and evaluation are essential to sustain investments and ensure long-term benefits.
Ofodile stressed that validation of the plans is critical to ensuring local ownership of projects and interventions.
He explained that development initiatives often fail when they are imposed from the top without community involvement, noting that the validation process allows stakeholders within each catchment to contribute to and take responsibility for the projects.
According to him, technical committees made up of stakeholders from the catchment areas will be established to guide implementation of projects in the short, medium, and long term.
He added that the goal is to ensure the plans are monitored, evaluated, and sustained across different administrations to prevent them from stalling like many previous projects.
Ofodile also expressed hope that both federal and state governments would support the initiative and possibly institutionalise it through legislation to ensure continuity.
Also speaking, Minister of Environment Balarabe Lawal said the initiative is aimed at tackling environmental challenges affecting millions of people, particularly in northern Nigeria.
Lawal noted that many communities across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory face serious environmental pressures such as advancing desertification, irregular rainfall, degraded farmlands, and shrinking water bodies.
He warned that these challenges pose significant threats to food security, livelihoods, and community stability.
The minister said the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project represents Nigeria’s strategic response to climate-related and environmental challenges.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Environment, working with the Ministries of Water Resources and Agriculture, is leading the initiative to strengthen climate resilience, restore degraded land, and empower communities to manage their natural resources sustainably.
He explained that the 20 Strategic Catchment Management Plans form the core of the project by identifying priority areas, mobilising resources, and coordinating actions across sectors and stakeholders.
While eleven of the plans have already been endorsed, the current workshop is reviewing the remaining nine.
National Coordinator of the ACReSAL Project, Abdulhamid Umar, represented by Communications Officer Awwal Wara, said the initiative was designed to address desertification, degraded farmlands, and declining water resources in semi-arid regions of northern Nigeria.
Wara said the project, supported by $700 million from the World Bank, aims to build resilience in vulnerable landscapes through watershed restoration, sustainable agriculture, and environmental protection.
He noted that the strategic catchment plans were developed through consultations with communities and stakeholders and reflect local concerns such as deforestation, soil erosion, shrinking water sources, and overgrazing.
According to him, the plans also outline practical solutions, including tree planting, improved water management, climate-smart farming, and other interventions designed to deliver immediate benefits to households and farmers.
The nine catchment plans currently under validation include Malenda, Oshin-Oy, Gurara-Gbako, Aloma-Konshisha, Benue-Mada, Sarkin-Pawa-Kaduna, Lungur-Gongola, Gaji-Lamurde, and Hawul-Kilange.
Wara said the plans cover ACReSAL states including Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, the Federal Capital Territory, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.
He also commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for supporting the project.
In a goodwill message on behalf of the World Bank Task Team Leader, Joy Agene, Director of Hydrology Henrietta Alhassan described the validation workshop as an important step toward improving sustainable water resource management in Nigeria.
She acknowledged the technical expertise and collaboration that went into developing the strategic plans, noting that effective catchment management is essential for resilient livelihoods, ecological stability, and long-term development.
Alhassan added that the plans reflect the contributions of communities, technical experts, government agencies, and development partners committed to protecting Nigeria’s critical landscapes.
