By Abbas Nazil
Kano State has appealed to the Federal Government and development partners to accord the state priority in the implementation of the Scaling-Up Resilience in Africa’s Great Green Wall (SURAGGWA) Project as it formally became the new headquarters of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), with government officials reaffirming their commitment to combating desertification, restoring degraded landscapes and strengthening climate resilience across Northern Nigeria.
The appeal was made on Thursday by the Kano State Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Dahiru Muhammad Hashim, during the commemoration of the 2026 Great Green Wall Day, the formal handover of office accommodation to the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, the flag-off of the 2026 tree planting activities and the inauguration of the National Steering Committee for the SURAGGWA Project at the Agency’s headquarters in Kano.
The event brought together the Minister of Environment, Hon. Balarabe Abbas Lawal, senior government officials, members of the National Assembly and Kano State House of Assembly, representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), traditional and religious leaders, development partners and other stakeholders committed to environmental sustainability.
Dr. Hashim described the relocation of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall headquarters to Kano as a landmark decision by the Federal Government that reflects the state’s strategic importance in advancing Nigeria’s environmental protection and climate action agenda.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the relocation, assuring the Federal Government that Kano State would provide the necessary support and enabling environment for the Agency to effectively discharge its national mandate.
According to the Commissioner, the formal handover of office accommodation represents more than a symbolic gesture, saying it demonstrates renewed collaboration between the Federal Government and Kano State towards restoring degraded landscapes, combating desertification and improving livelihoods in vulnerable communities.
He noted that Kano fully accepts its responsibility as host of the Agency’s national headquarters and remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote sustainable environmental management and climate resilience.
Dr. Hashim acknowledged the significant contributions made by the National Agency for the Great Green Wall in Kano State over the years through large-scale afforestation programmes, establishment of shelterbelts and windbreaks, sustainable land management interventions and climate-smart agricultural practices.
He stated that the Agency has also implemented livelihood support programmes that have empowered women, youths and vulnerable households through the provision of small ruminants, agro-processing equipment and other productive assets aimed at improving rural incomes and strengthening local economies.
The Commissioner further revealed that the Agency recently donated 500,000 date palm seedlings to the Kano State Government through the Ministry of Environment for planting across suitable communities, describing the intervention as one that will enhance food security, increase tree cover, create employment opportunities and improve resilience to climate change.
He commended the Minister of Environment, the Governing Board and management of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Global Environment Facility and other development partners for their continued support towards environmental restoration efforts in Kano State.
Highlighting the achievements of the Kano State Government under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Dr. Hashim said the administration has placed environmental sustainability and climate action at the centre of its development agenda because of their direct impact on economic prosperity, food security and social well-being.
He disclosed that the state has developed and adopted a Climate Change Policy, completed its Climate Change Implementation Plan, advanced the Kano State Climate Change Bill and significantly improved its national climate governance ranking from 34th position in 2024 to fourth position in 2025.
According to him, the progress has positioned Kano among Nigeria’s leading sub-national governments in climate governance and environmental stewardship.
The Commissioner also outlined the state’s achievements in afforestation and ecosystem restoration, stating that Kano planted three million tree seedlings across schools, communities, public institutions and strategic locations in 2024.
He added that the programme expanded considerably in 2025, with government-owned nurseries producing 5.5 million seedlings and more than five million trees planted through community participation and institutional collaboration.
Beyond tree planting, Dr. Hashim disclosed that the state has restored more than 50,000 hectares of degraded land through several landscape restoration initiatives.
These include the Bulbula-Gayawa Erosion Control Project, avenue tree planting along major roads within Kano metropolis, establishment of shelterbelts at Yanbawa and Ginzo, a 100-hectare conventional orchard at Kyale in Gabasawa Local Government Area, community orchards in Shanono, Takai and Makoda, enrichment planting in Dajin Kura and Falgore Game Reserve, agroforestry interventions in Gumawa and several community-led restoration programmes across the state.
He said the projects are helping to restore degraded ecosystems, conserve biodiversity, improve agricultural productivity, generate employment and strengthen resilience against climate change.
Describing the SURAGGWA Project as timely, the Commissioner said it offers an opportunity to consolidate existing achievements while significantly expanding landscape restoration, climate adaptation measures and livelihood opportunities across Kano State.
He assured the Federal Government, the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, FAO, GEF and other development partners that Kano is fully prepared for the successful implementation of the project.
According to him, the state government will continue to facilitate access to project sites, mobilise communities and provide the political support necessary to ensure successful implementation.
Dr. Hashim appealed for Kano to receive priority consideration under the SURAGGWA Project, citing the state’s longstanding partnership with the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, its restoration of more than 50,000 hectares of degraded landscapes, sustained investment in afforestation, robust climate governance framework and proven capacity for community mobilisation.
He argued that these achievements position Kano as the natural flagship state for the Great Green Wall Initiative in Nigeria and expressed confidence that the state’s success story could serve as a model for replication across other frontline states and the wider Sahel region.
The Commissioner reaffirmed Kano State’s commitment to working closely with the National Agency for the Great Green Wall and development partners to transform the state into a centre of excellence for landscape restoration, climate resilience, research, innovation and sustainable environmental management.
He expressed optimism that the relocation of the Agency’s headquarters to Kano would usher in a new phase of stronger partnerships, increased investment and measurable environmental results that would benefit both present and future generations.
The event also featured the official flag-off of the 2026 national tree planting campaign and the inauguration of the National Steering Committee for the Scaling-Up Resilience in Africa’s Great Green Wall Project, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to combating desertification, reversing land degradation and promoting sustainable livelihoods across the Great Green Wall frontline states.