Tensions are rising among beneficiaries of the World Bank-backed Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project in Adamawa State, as they accuse officials of fraudulently removing their names from the program’s list and replacing them with “fake farmers.”
The affected individuals claim they were unjustly removed after completing six months of intensive training, including practical sessions, only to see farmlands, agricultural inputs, and financial support originally meant for them handed over to new, unqualified entrants.
“They fabricated lies, saying those removed were not serious or had abandoned their farms,” Yakubu Dan, a former beneficiary, told The Trumpet via WhatsApp. Another beneficiary, Hyla Bulama, voiced his frustration over the phone: “We spent our savings on transport and feeding for six months just to attend training sessions, only to be sidelined. We demand justice!”
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The ACReSAL initiative, financed by the World Bank in partnership with the Adamawa State Government, is designed to combat land degradation and climate change across 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The project aims to promote sustainable land and water management through strategic investments, ecosystem-based solutions, and institutional capacity building.
Despite efforts to obtain a response from the program’s officials, they have remained silent on the allegations.
With growing discontent among displaced beneficiaries, calls for transparency and accountability in the ACReSAL program are mounting. Will the authorities step in to address these claims, or will this controversy further fuel doubts about the program’s credibility?
