Abuja: The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has unveiled a strategy aimed at combating desertification, reducing poverty, and ensuring sustainable development in Nigeria's dry lands. This was announced by the agency's Council Chairman, Sen. Magnus Abe, during the induction and familiarisation meeting of the 3rd National Council of the NAGGW, held in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event, themed 'Green Leadership, Good Governance: Aligning with the Renewed Hope of President Bola Tinubu,' highlighted the numerous challenges faced by communities in the country that require collective attention. Sen. Abe emphasized that the initiative is not merely another government program but a vision of survival, resilience, and hope for citizens whose lives are threatened by desertification and climate change effects.
Sen. Abe also assured that the agency would address these challenges from the Niger Delta perspective, a region historically affected by environmental degradation. He stated that environmental injustice and non-protection can breed poverty and instability and shared his insights on how empowering people as custodians of their environment can lead to their prosperity. He further noted that desertification in the Sahel regions of Northern Nigeria manifests as shrinking farmlands, drying water sources, and forced migration, and stressed that the agency's work is about planting hope, restoring dignity, reducing poverty, and building peace.
Earlier, the Director-General of the agency, Saleh Abubakar, remarked that green leadership involves leading with empathy and a commitment to sustainability. He highlighted the unprecedented environmental challenges the world faces, including climate change-induced droughts, floods, and wildfires. Abubakar stressed that good governance is crucial for lasting impact and requires transparency, integrity, and collaboration, emphasizing the need for an equitable and accountable system.
The agency's vision aligns with the African Union's initiative to create a mosaic of green landscapes across the Sahel. In Nigeria, the NAGGW was established as a robust institution with the statutory responsibility to coordinate, implement, and monitor the Great Green Wall program. Recently, the agency inaugurated 50 million date palm plantations across 11 frontline states, marking a significant initiative combining ecological restoration with food security and sustainable livelihoods.
Mr. Sylvester Okonofua, an Environmental Consultant, also emphasized the importance of field staff safety and the provision of hazard allowances during his presentation on the NAGGW Establishment Act.