Women are major actors in global efforts to reduce and reverse land degradation, says Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr Ibrahim Yusufu.
Mr Yusufu made this statement over the weekend in Abuja, the nation’s capital, at the Commemoration of the 2023 World Desertification and Drought Day, themed “Her Land Her Right: Advancing Gender Equality and Land Restoration Goals.”
He pledged to continue advocating for the effective implementation of land rights for women in the country.
The Permanent Secretary emphasizes that stakeholders in the environmental sector should ensure that women have equal rights in accessing land, both in law and in practice.
He believes that this will prevent discrimination against women by private corporations, investors, powerful local elites, multilateral organizations, and family members, in their rights to access, use, inherit, control, and own land.
“I would like to extend a cordial welcome to all of you on this occasion of the celebration of World Desertification and Drought Day. Today, as emphasis is placed on equality, fairness, and justice worldwide, this year’s theme, ‘Her Land. Her Right,’ is very heartening and inspiring,” he said.
“Driven by the urgency of a global rush for land and extracted resources, and accelerated by unprecedented urbanization and the growing impact of climate change and natural disasters, women have been at the center of human rights violations worldwide concerning their rights and access to land,” he added.
The Permanent Secretary also notes that women’s land rights are crucial for democracy, peace, justice, sustainable development, and security for all.
“Securing land rights for women will trigger powerful, continued ripple effects that contribute significantly to achieving gender equality and a range of critical SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and human rights,” he stated.
“Women are more severely affected by land tenure insecurity due to direct and indirect discriminatory laws and practices at the national, community, and family levels—from large-scale land acquisitions that displace communities without due compensation, to the encroachment of extractive industries on indigenous and communal lands, to unplanned urbanization that forcibly evicts people living in informal settlements,” he explained.
The Permanent Secretary was represented by the Director Department of Drought and Desertification Management in the Ministry, Mrs. Mable Emmanuel.
FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adesola Olusade, stated that deliberate efforts were being made by the FCT to ensure the planting of trees within its environment to promote a regulated temperature.
“With today being very significant for us, it is the International Day for Desertification and Drought Control, set aside by the United Nations to raise awareness of the damaging and deleterious effects of desertification and drought, which are ravaging the continent. Now, on this day, deliberate efforts are being made to ensure that we plant trees within our environment to promote a regulated temperature,” he said.
He said the FCT would continue to put forth efforts to promote the planting of trees.
Mr. Olushola stated that the FCT would reinvigorate compliance with regulations governing the FCT to ensure that everyone contributes collectively to make Abuja a safe and green place.
“Abuja is a green city, and this has been acknowledged by many heads of government who visit Nigeria. When they come to the country, they are impressed with what we are doing. That’s what I also experienced in the department. Let us rotate the venue of this event, so I will go to another place and plant there. It will be my delight to see that before the end of this administration’s tenure, the entire airport is lined with trees so that anyone coming into the FCT will be welcomed by their beautiful aesthetics,” he stated.
According to him, there are regulations governing the development of assets, and it is specified that holders of every house should plant a certain number of trees.
Mr. Isaiah Ukpanah, Director of Parks and Recreation Center in the FCT, mentioned that the Department of Parks and Recreation has been planting trees to ensure a green environment. He stated that the FCT has planted over 250 trees in Abuja.
“You can really see that the whole environment of Abuja is great, and that’s the effort of this department. We know that Abuja is a green city, and trees are being planted daily to accommodate more buildings,” he added.
The sidelines of the event also witnessed the planting of trees in the FCT parks and recreation center.