Nigeria Reviews Climate Programme To Fix Implementation Gaps

By Hannah Yemisi

The federal government reaffirmed commitment to the Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, a climate adaptation initiative supported by the World Bank, during a mid-term review in Kaduna.

DECISION HIGHLIGHT
Authorities are prioritising accelerated implementation, cross-sector coordination, and institutionalisation of climate resilience interventions to ensure durability beyond project timelines.

DECISION MEMO
The renewed push reflects a transition from programme rollout to performance scrutiny. The mid-term review of the ACReSAL project signals recognition that execution gaps, rather than policy absence, are the binding constraint on climate adaptation outcomes.

Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation and Co-Chairman of the project steering committee, stated that the initiative remains central to addressing “flooding, land degradation, and water scarcity,” while emphasising the need to “assess the effectiveness of interventions” and resolve operational bottlenecks. Utsev’s framing underscores a shift towards measurable impact, particularly in watershed management, hydrological data systems, and early warning infrastructure.

Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment and Chairman of the steering committee, introduced a structural concern, stating that “states must enact laws that will guarantee the sustainability” of interventions. Lawal’s position highlights a critical dependency on subnational policy alignment, without which project gains risk dissipation post-funding.

The involvement of the World Bank reinforces external financing and technical validation, but also reflects reliance on multilateral frameworks for climate adaptation financing. The programme’s concentration in semi-arid northern regions aligns with climate vulnerability patterns, where desertification and rainfall variability directly constrain agricultural productivity.

DATA BOX

• Project: Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL)
• Geographic focus: Semi-arid northern Nigeria
• Key risks addressed: Flooding, land degradation, water scarcity
• Core delivery channels: River Basin Development Authorities, Hydrological Services
• Priority tools: Early warning systems, flood forecasting, water infrastructure
• Governance gap: Absence of binding state-level legislation for sustainability
• Development partner: World Bank

WHO WINS / WHO LOSES
Vulnerable communities gain from improved climate adaptation infrastructure and data systems. Federal institutions consolidate coordination authority. State governments face increased legislative and implementation pressure. Without legal backing, long-term beneficiaries risk losing continuity of interventions.

POLICY SIGNALS
Climate resilience is being repositioned as a core economic stabilisation priority, with emphasis on integrating water resource management and agricultural adaptation. There is a clear push towards institutional permanence through subnational legislation.

INVESTOR SIGNAL
The programme signals expanding opportunities in climate-linked infrastructure, water systems, and agricultural resilience financing. However, investor confidence will depend on policy continuity beyond donor-supported project cycles.

RISK RADAR
Execution risk remains tied to inter-agency coordination and implementation capacity. Policy risk is evident in weak subnational legal frameworks. Funding risk persists due to reliance on external partners. Climate risk continues to intensify, potentially outpacing intervention scale and speed.