By Abbas Nazil
Nigeria is on track to emerge as a global model in the fight against climate change, according to the Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Saleh Abubakar.
He stated that the country’s sustained efforts in tackling climate-induced challenges and strengthening ecosystem resilience are beginning to yield visible results.
Abubakar made this known while speaking to journalists during a high-level technical consultation meeting on the New African Union Great Green Wall Strategy and its 10-year implementation framework for 2024–2034 held in Dakar, Senegal.
The three-day meeting was convened under the leadership of the African Union and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), with support from the Pan-African Agency of the Great Green Wall.
Discussions at the event focused on reinforcing institutional frameworks and sharpening the strategic direction of the Great Green Wall Initiative across participating countries.
According to Abubakar, Nigeria’s ongoing interventions in combating land degradation and promoting environmental sustainability are already positioning the country as a reference point for others.
He explained that the agency’s activities align with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in addressing food insecurity and environmental challenges in vulnerable communities.
The NAGGW boss highlighted that efforts such as afforestation projects, deployment of solar-powered boreholes, and sustainable land management practices are being implemented across 11 frontline northern states.
These states include Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Gombe, and Adamawa.
He noted that these interventions are gradually reducing the impact of desertification and other climate-related hazards in the affected regions.
Abubakar added that Nigeria’s progress in restoring degraded lands and empowering local communities is attracting attention and could soon serve as a blueprint for international collaboration.
He emphasized that other countries are likely to adopt Nigeria’s approach as a model for addressing similar environmental challenges.
On the significance of the Dakar meeting, he expressed optimism that the newly developed 10-year framework would strengthen commitments and accelerate action against desertification across Africa.
He said the consultation provided an opportunity for stakeholders to align strategies and enhance cooperation among member states.
Participants at the meeting underscored the urgency of scaling up efforts to restore degraded lands and build resilience in Africa’s dryland regions.
They also stressed the importance of coordinated action and stronger institutional support to achieve the goals of the Great Green Wall Initiative.
Abubakar revealed that the sessions included detailed deliberations on the African Union’s updated strategy, with a focus on improving coordination mechanisms and ensuring effective implementation.
He explained that clarifications were made regarding the roles and responsibilities of various institutions involved in the initiative.
This, he said, would help eliminate overlaps and strengthen accountability among stakeholders.
He concluded that the meeting laid a solid foundation for improved collaboration, stronger policy alignment, and renewed commitment to combating climate change across the continent.