Latest news with #NorthernStates
Zawya
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
World Bank-ACReSAL Nigeria recovers over 178,000 hectares of degraded land in 19 Northern states
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape Project (ACReSAL), a World Bank-supported initiative, has successfully recovered over 178,000 hectares of degraded land across 19 northern states affected by climate change. Abdulhamid Umar, National Project Coordinator for ACReSAL, disclosed this while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a five-day retreat in Lagos. He said reclaiming 178,235 hectares out of the one million target for six years is a significant achievement toward restoring one million hectares of arable land in the region. 'This project, supported by the World Bank, addresses severe climate change challenges, particularly the encroaching Sahara Desert and land degradation in the 19 northern states. Our efforts aim to reverse land infertility caused by natural and human factors in a region with increasingly erratic rainfall,' Umar stated. Umar elaborated on the broader impact of ACReSAL: 'Our interventions, including dryland management, community-driven climate resilience activities, and agricultural support, have led to bumper harvests and improved livelihoods for over one million direct beneficiaries in just three years, with over 10 million indirect beneficiaries.' Looking ahead, Umar addressed project sustainability beyond its initial six-year funding cycle: 'Our strategy includes community ownership, establishing legal frameworks at the state level, and infrastructure development to ensure longevity.' Dr. Joy Iganya Agene, Task Team Leader for ACReSAL and Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank, underscored the project's impact, stressing that ACReSAL represents a significant stride in Nigeria's efforts to build climate resilience and restore degraded landscapes. 'The progress made demonstrates the effectiveness of strategic planning and land preparation,' Dr. Agene explained, adding that ACReSAL is optimistic about achieving 60-70% recovery of the targeted one million hectares in the coming year. Both Umar and Dr. Agene emphasised the strong commitment and collaboration from the federal government and state governors. Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TGI Fridays Is Shrinking Rapidly After Closing 185 Locations
A beloved restaurant chain is rapidly closing locations, with 30 locations closing in just one recent month alone and 185 being lost in just over a year. TGI Fridays used to be a popular restaurant chain, familiar to people throughout the US. But now the number of restaurants that remain open is shrinking rapidly. According to the chain's website, there are now only 85 TGI Fridays restaurants left in the entire U.S. The restaurants are located in 19 states. Georgia has the most remaining with seven, according to the website. According to CNN, this represents a "sharp decline," from the 270 locations that were left at the beginning of 2024. The chain had 600 restaurants across the U.S. at its height in 2008, after launching in 1965, CNN reported. In late 2024, the parent company for the brand filed for bankruptcy and has now been closing locations with "an additional 30 locations shuttering over the past month," in March, 2025, CNN reported. The company told CNN in April 2025 that TGI Fridays is "now led by franchisees, with a franchisee advisory board empowering and shaping brand-wide decisions.' However, according to the company's website, TGI Fridays has more locations in other countries, 44 in all. There are a total of 461 restaurants in all of those countries, the site says, calling the chain "the original casual dining bar and grill." In November, TGI Fridays announced that it had filed "voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the Northern District of Texas. The Company expects to use the time and legal protections made available through the Chapter 11 restructuring process to allow the Company to explore strategic alternatives in order to ensure the long-term viability of the brand," its statement reads.
