Scale Up Land Restoration to Address Widespread Desertification across Northern Nigeria
Land restoration to date (922,717.86 ha, +3.6% vegetation cover) covers only part of the ~70 million people facing desertification, and the ACReSAL project is active in just 19 of Nigeria's 36 states, leaving most desertification-affected areas without restoration investment. The ACReSAL project mid-term review reports 922,717.86 hectares of land brought under restoration so far, against a backdrop where an estimated 70 million people in Nigeria face desertification pressure.
Land under restoration = 922,717.86 ha; population facing desertification = 70,000,000. Priority score 9.4 out of 10; response tier Act.
Situation
In Nigeria, priority demand is recorded across National (19 of 36 states + FCT), within the domain of Policy, Land Rights & Governance, focusing on Land restoration / natural resource management. Primary beneficiaries include farming communities in desertification-prone northern and semi-arid states.
Extracted EvidenceVegetation Cover Increase: 3.6 percent. Land Under Restoration: 922717.86 hectares.
IntelligenceWhen an expressed demand in National (19 of 36 states + FCT) is rated High with a priority score of 9.4/10 (Act tier), the limiting factor is scaling and investment reach. Sustaining action within current perimeters leaves the wider crisis unaddressed. Expanding coordinated response across Development Agencies & Donors, Government & Public Policy, Producers & Local Communities is the strategic imperative.
Demand Signal
This demand is classified as an Expressed Demand, formally stated through Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation / World Bank. It carries signal type(s): Program Demand, Scaling Demand. Demand strength is rated High. Priority score: 9.4 out of 10. Response tier: Act.
Demand Description
Land restoration to date (922,717.86 ha, +3.6% vegetation cover) covers only part of the ~70 million people facing desertification, and the ACReSAL project is active in just 19 of Nigeria's 36 states, leaving most desertification-affected areas without restoration investment. The ACReSAL project mid-term review reports 922,717.86 hectares of land brought under restoration so far, against a backdrop where an estimated 70 million people in Nigeria face desertification pressure.
Demand Gap
Gap type: Climate & Resilience Gap.
Land restoration to date (922,717.86 ha, +3.6% vegetation cover) covers only part of the ~70 million people facing desertification, and the ACReSAL project is active in just 19 of Nigeria's 36 states, leaving most desertification-affected areas without restoration investment.
Gap SignalVegetation Cover Increase: 3.6 percent. Land Under Restoration: 922717.86 hectares.
Stakeholders and Target Group
| Who expressed | Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation / World Bank |
|---|---|
| Stakeholder groups | Development Agencies & Donors, Government & Public Policy, Producers & Local Communities |
| Target group | Farming communities in desertification-prone northern and semi-arid states |
| Domain | Policy, Land Rights & Governance |
| Value chain / sector | Land restoration / natural resource management |
| Impact areas | Climate Adaptation & Mitigation, Environmental Health & Biodiversity |
Source
- Document
- ACReSAL Project Mid-Term Review - Nigeria Agricultural and Climate Data (Program, 2025).
- Organisation
- Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation / World Bank
- Citation
- Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation / World Bank. 2025. ACReSAL Project Mid-Term Review - Nigeria Agricultural and Climate Data. Read the primary source