The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has raised concerns over the increasing threat of desertification in eleven northern states, warning that the environmental crisis is worsening security challenges in the region.
Malam Sale Abubakar, Director-General of the agency, issued the alert during the organisation’s 10th-anniversary celebration in Dutse, Jigawa State.
Abubakar highlighted severe environmental degradation in states such as Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Katsina, where desert encroachment has contributed to food insecurity, displacement, and conflict.
To combat the problem, the agency has initiated a large-scale tree-planting program, distributing and planting approximately 50 million date palm seedlings and other drought-resistant tree species across the affected states.
The initiative aims to curb desertification while mitigating the effects of climate change, which have intensified in northern Nigeria over the past decade. Abubakar emphasised that the date palm project also serves an economic purpose, providing livelihood opportunities for women and youth involved in cultivation and processing.
The agency plans to distribute the seedlings over five years, starting with five million in 2025. Jigawa State, a major date palm producer, will receive 500,000 seedlings as part of the program.
Beyond tree planting, the NAGGW will launch a public awareness campaign to promote sustainable practices in energy use, mining, construction, and agriculture. The director-general stressed that addressing desertification requires a multi-sectoral approach, combining environmental restoration with economic empowerment.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
