Building Resilience through Strategic Catchment Management Plans: A Pathway to Sustainable Natural Resource Management in Nigeria

By Angela Ohikere

Strategic Catchment Management Plans (SCMPs) have been identified as a critical framework for strengthening resilience and promoting sustainable management of Nigeria’s natural resources.

This was the focal point of deliberations at the ongoing Appraisal and Validation Workshop for nine Strategic Catchment Management Plans taking place in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

The five-day workshop has attracted key stakeholders including representatives of the World Bank, the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU), ACReSAL implementing states, relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and members of the academic community. Also in attendance is the Project Coordinator of Kogi ACReSAL, Barrister Ladi Ahmed Jatto (OON), who is participating alongside stakeholders from various MDAs in Kogi State

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Delivering the keynote address, the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. (Engr.) Joseph Terlumun Utsev, highlighted the growing challenge posed by the shrinking of water bodies across the country, noting that the situation has significantly contributed to food shortages in Nigeria. Represented by the Director of Forestry in the Ministry, the Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening climate resilience and restoring degraded landscapes nationwide.

In her remarks, the World Bank Senior Environmental Specialist and Task Team Leader of the ACReSAL Project, Dr. Joy Iganya Agene, through the ACReSAL Climate Specialist at the FPMU, explained that the Strategic Catchment Management Plans were designed not only to ensure ecological stability but also to improve the livelihoods of people in local communities.

She further noted that the plans undergoing validation reflect the collective inputs of the people and emphasized that the validation process would ensure that interventions implemented across the participating states remain evidence-based and sustainable.

Also speaking at the event, the National Project Coordinator of the ACReSAL Project, Abdulhamid Umar, described the workshop as more than a gathering of professionals. Represented by the Water Resources Specialist at the FPMU, he stated that it brings together individuals who are deeply concerned about protecting the land that sustains families, the water that supports rural communities, and the future of coming generations.

He added that the challenges of land degradation, desertification, and drying rivers are no longer distant concerns but pressing realities confronting communities across the country today.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Project Coordinator of Kebbi ACReSAL, Ahmed Isa-Tela, represented by the Project’s Communication Officer, described the appraisal and validation of the Catchment Management Plans as a transformative initiative aimed at supporting the implementation of sustainable landscape management practices across Northern Nigeria.

Goodwill messages were delivered by HRH Ibrahim Gambo Kabir, the Maigari of Lokoja, and Mr. Olorin Yomi AbdulRahman, Director of Forestry, Kwara State.

ACReSAL… Greening the Environment, Saving Lives!