Country: NigeriaPriority: Medium (5.9/10)Response: PrepareTheme: Irrigation & Water AccessYear: 2025

Continue Expanding Irrigated Area and Closing the Household Water-access Gap in Acresal States

About 20.9% of ACReSAL beneficiary households still lack improved water access despite 25,298 ha of irrigation development and 965 solar boreholes drilled, leaving a residual water-access gap even among program participants. ACReSAL has developed 25,298 hectares of irrigated area, while 79.1% of beneficiary households report improved water access (implying a remaining gap of roughly 20.9% of households without improved access) and 965 solar-powered boreholes have been drilled.

Irrigated area = 25,298 ha; improved water access = 79.1% (gap ~20.9%); solar boreholes = 965. Priority score 5.9 out of 10; response tier Prepare.

Situation

In Nigeria, priority demand is recorded across 19 covered states, within the domain of Irrigation, Water & Infrastructure, focusing on Irrigation and rural water supply. Primary beneficiaries include smallholder farming households in acresal states.

Extracted Evidence

Land Under Restoration: 922717.86 hectares. Direct Beneficiaries: 9300000 persons.

Intelligence

When an expressed demand in 19 covered states is rated Medium with a priority score of 5.9/10 (Prepare 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 Derived 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 Medium. Priority score: 5.9 out of 10. Response tier: Prepare.

Demand Description

About 20.9% of ACReSAL beneficiary households still lack improved water access despite 25,298 ha of irrigation development and 965 solar boreholes drilled, leaving a residual water-access gap even among program participants. ACReSAL has developed 25,298 hectares of irrigated area, while 79.1% of beneficiary households report improved water access (implying a remaining gap of roughly 20.9% of households without improved access) and 965 solar-powered boreholes have been drilled.

Demand Gap

Gap type: Infrastructure & Irrigation Gap, Production & Productivity Gap.

About 20.9% of ACReSAL beneficiary households still lack improved water access despite 25,298 ha of irrigation development and 965 solar boreholes drilled, leaving a residual water-access gap even among program participants.

Gap Signal

Land Under Restoration: 922717.86 hectares. Direct Beneficiaries: 9300000 persons.

Stakeholders and Target Group

Who expressedFederal Ministry of Information and National Orientation / World Bank
Stakeholder groupsDevelopment Agencies & Donors, Government & Public Policy, Producers & Local Communities
Target groupSmallholder farming households in ACReSAL states
DomainIrrigation, Water & Infrastructure
Value chain / sectorIrrigation and rural water supply
Impact areasClimate Adaptation & Mitigation, Livelihoods & Poverty Reduction

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

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