By Ojugbele Omotunde
The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has reaffirmed its commitment to enhance the livelihoods of communities affected by desertification and land degradation caused by climate change.
Dr Yusuf Maina-Bukar, the Agency’s Director-General, stated this on Monday at the North-East Stakeholders’ Forum in Kano.
The topic of the conference was “Building Multi-Stakeholders Responsiveness in the Implementation of the Great Green Wall Programme in Nigeria”.
Safiyanu Yabala represents the agency, which is dedicated to combating land degradation, desertification, and improving community resilience to climate change.
According to Maina-Bukar, one of the agency’s core mandates is to foster synergy and upscaling activities among multi-level sectors and indigenous stakeholders. The Great Green Wall project aims to create a sustainable landscape that encourages community development, biodiversity conservation, and climate change resilience. He emphasizes the importance of diverse voices and perspectives in implementing effective and responsive programs.
He states that the project threatens livelihoods and conflicts, and it encourages indigenous stakeholders to actively participate in shaping a greener environment and communities.
The ambitious project in Nigeria aims to address an urgent environmental and socioeconomic crisis caused by desert encroachment.
The NGGW president emphasizes the importance of traditional knowledge and cultural heritage in long-term resilience and sustainable land management. He hopes that the National Stakeholders Forum will increase collaboration and activity across the eleven frontline states.
Mr Mohammed Faw, a Gombe State representative at the meeting, stated that Governor Inuwa Yahaya has signed a N12 billion contract to address gully erosion, protect lives, and preserve the environment. The project is part of the state’s commitment to environmental sustainability, as part of the Gombe Goes Green (3G) project, which was launched in 2019.
Director of Policy Planning and Coordination at the Nigerian Agency, Hajiya Habiba Lau,emphasized the significance of the event for the agency’s activities across the country, which focus on reversing desertification, land degradation, mitigating the effects of climate change, and encouraging grassroots development.
Prof. Nura Sani of the Federal University of Dutse urged participants to discuss how to combat desertification and land degradation in order to mitigate climate change. She praised the GGW project’s tree planting campaign for improving soil fertility and creating local jobs.