NAGGW targets 50 million date palm project to combat desertification by 2030

The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has appealed to the federal government to support its 50 million date palm project aimed at combating desertification in Northern Nigeria.

Saleh Abubakar, Director-General of NAGGW, made the appeal during a courtesy visit to George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), in Abuja.

Abubakar explained that the initiative seeks to restore degraded lands in the 11 frontline states of the region.

Read also: FG targets N300bn from date palm in Yobe

He said the agency, during its 10th-anniversary ceremony in August, launched the project as part of efforts to curb desert encroachment. So far, the agency has distributed at least five million date palms across the frontline states and aims to scale up to 50 million by 2030.

“I am here to solicit your support for our 50-million date palm initiative, which will help combat desertification, land degradation, and promote economic empowerment,” Abubakar said.

He added that NAGGW, established in 2015, was created to address land degradation, desertification, and food insecurity, and to help communities adapt to climate change across Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa.

NAGGW serves as Nigeria’s focal point for the African Union’s Great Green Wall of the Sahara and the Sahel project. Its mission is to halt and reverse land degradation, protect biodiversity, strengthen ecosystem resilience to climate change, and provide services that contribute to human welfare and poverty reduction.

Since assuming office over a year ago, Abubakar said the agency has intensified efforts and deepened collaboration with stakeholders in the frontline states to ensure local communities take ownership of the projects.

He urged the SGF to support the agency in securing additional funding to finance the date palm initiative and other programs aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

In response, the SGF acknowledged NAGGW’s efforts in tackling the effects of climate change and assured the agency of the Federal Government’s continued support to ensure it achieves its mandate.

Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date