Beatrice Gondyi Bauchi
The Federal Government has rated Bauchi State among the best-performing states under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, saying the state’s performance has contributed to efforts to secure additional financing for the programme.
The National Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, Mr Abdulhameed Umar, disclosed this on Monday in Bauchi at the Hybrid Additional Financing Pre-Appraisal Mission meeting.
Umar said the Federal Project Management Unit decided to host the pre-appraisal mission in Bauchi because of the state’s strong implementation record under the World Bank-supported project.
According to him, ACReSAL has been assessed as a performing project by the Federal Government and the World Bank, creating an opportunity for additional financing to expand its interventions across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“On behalf of the Federal Government, I bring greetings from the Ministers of Environment, Agriculture and Food Security, and Water Resources and Sanitation,” Umar said.
He explained that the positive assessment of the project had paved the way for the additional financing process.
“Bauchi happens to be one of our best-performing states as far as ACReSAL is concerned. We didn’t find it difficult to come to Bauchi because ACReSAL is actually being implemented and delivering results here,” he said.
Umar commended the Bauchi State Government for its support for the project, as well as the hospitality extended to the federal delegation since its arrival in the state.
Also speaking, the ACReSAL Task Team Lead, Dr Joy Iganya Agene, commended Governor Bala Mohammed for his leadership and support for donor-funded programmes in the state.
Agene, who was represented at the event alongside other officials, asked the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Auwal Muhammad Jatau, to convey the project team’s appreciation to the governor.
“His Excellency is one of the governors that we appreciate under the project. He is one of the leading governors under ACReSAL who understands donor funding and the required support,” she said.
She also commended the participation of the state’s deputy governor, commissioners, Chief of Staff and Head of Service at the meeting, describing their presence as an indication of the state government’s commitment to the project.
Agene further commended the 19 participating states, the FCT and their respective project coordinators for their contributions to the implementation of ACReSAL.
“You are the boots on the ground. I can attest that you have done well. Otherwise, there would not be any additional finance,” she said.
She noted that ACReSAL was unique in having three Task Team Leads, a structure she said had contributed to the effective delivery of the project.
Recalling the launch of the project in Bauchi in May 2023, Agene said the state had demonstrated its commitment to achieving the programme’s objectives.
“Today in September 2026, I can attest that Bauchi State listened and delivered on the objectives of ACReSAL.
Congratulations, Bauchi,” she said.
She explained that the move for additional financing followed the project’s mid-term review conducted in Lagos in May and June, adding that the strong performance recorded so far had strengthened the case for expanding the programme.
Agene, however, challenged Bauchi State to improve further and deliver more results under the proposed additional financing window.
ACReSAL is a World Bank-supported programme aimed at restoring degraded landscapes, strengthening climate resilience and improving livelihoods in semi-arid communities.
The additional financing pre-appraisal mission is expected to assess the project’s performance and establish the basis for expanding its interventions across the participating states and the FCT.
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