The World Bank has approved $500m in additional financing to help Nigeria tackle flooding, restore degraded agricultural land and strengthen livelihoods in communities vulnerable to climate-related disasters.
The funding will support the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes project, known as ACReSAL, across 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to The PUNCH, the World Bank announced that the intervention would improve water management and restore damaged landscapes while helping farmers and rural communities adapt to changing climatic conditions.
World Bank targets 6.6 million Nigerians
The institution disclosed that the additional financing would support efforts to restore approximately 1.4 million hectares of land by 2031.
It expects about 6.6 million people to benefit from the expanded programme.
The project will focus on communities experiencing flooding, erosion, land degradation and declining agricultural productivity.
Interventions will include watershed rehabilitation, soil restoration and improved management of water resources.
The bank maintained that restoring damaged landscapes would help strengthen food security and reduce environmental pressures affecting rural livelihoods.
Project targets farmer-herder tensions
The initiative is also expected to improve access to productive land and reduce competition over natural resources.
Such pressures have contributed to disagreements between farming and pastoral communities in parts of Northern Nigeria.
The bank explained that more sustainable management of land and water could support peaceful coexistence while improving agricultural productivity.
However, the project does not guarantee an immediate end to farmer-herder conflicts.
Its anticipated impact will depend on implementation, local participation and the effectiveness of the planned interventions.
Climate resilience remains priority
In its official announcement dated November 6, 2026, the World Bank explained that the financing would expand existing climate-resilience measures.
The institution said the programme had already demonstrated the benefits of restoring landscapes and improving natural resource management.
The additional funding is intended to strengthen those achievements and help more communities withstand climate-related disruptions.
Nigeria has experienced repeated flooding and erosion incidents affecting homes, farmlands, roads and businesses.
The project will therefore focus on long-term measures intended to reduce environmental risks, improve soil quality and strengthen rural economies.
Funding subject to implementation
The approval represents additional financing for the existing ACReSAL project, rather than an announcement that the full $500m has already been distributed to beneficiaries.
Implementation will be coordinated through the project’s established arrangements with participating governments and relevant institutions.
The World Bank expects the intervention to deliver measurable environmental and economic improvements by 2031.
