By Abdullahi Lukman
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, showcased the Federal Government’s major environmental and agricultural initiatives for Northern states during a two-day interactive session on government–citizen engagement held on Tuesday and Wednesday at Arewa House, Kaduna.
The event, themed: “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government–Citizen Engagement for National Unity,” was organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation.
The Minister emphasized the strides made since May 2023 under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in the 19 northern states and the FCT.
Over 5.5 million trees have been planted through the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) and the ACReSAL program.
The Forest Research Institute of Nigeria is preparing 10 million drought-resistant seedlings for planting in 2025.
Shelterbelts have been extended by 175 kilometers across seven frontline states to combat desert encroachment, while 5 million Date Palm and 3.85 million Neem seedlings have been raised to support local livelihoods and resist desertification.
A total of 278,235 hectares of degraded land have been restored in northern Nigeria and the FCT.
A bamboo factory established in Kogi State has created over 20,000 jobs, promoting sustainable alternatives to wood and boosting the bamboo and rattan economy.
To enhance biodiversity and eco-tourism, the Federal Government has taken over three national parks—Kampe, Marhai, and Hadejia Wetlands—with plans to manage four more in Kano, Plateau, Niger, and Katsina States.
The government has implemented 198 flood and erosion control projects. Key interventions include the Jibia River Bank protection (1,812 hectares), Hadejia River desilting (182,780 hectares), and Nguru Wetland rehabilitation (29,622 hectares).
A flood early warning system now covers 258 communities with 90% accuracy, significantly reducing risks to lives and property.
₦12 billion has been disbursed to 9,648 individuals across 16 northern states through agricultural value chain programs.
Tractors, fertilizers, and milling machines have also been distributed to enhance productivity and support food security.
To promote a circular economy, the government launched a national roadmap expected to create over 2 million jobs.
A $2.9 million plastic recycling facility commissioned in Abuja employs 550,000 waste pickers—mainly women—who earn up to ₦75,000 monthly across Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Zamfara.
The National Clean Cooking Policy targets 20 million households in northern Nigeria with clean cookstoves, backed by a ₦50 billion Green Bond, with plans to expand it to ₦250 billion.
Looking ahead, the Federal Government is preparing a National Flood Insurance Policy and is ramping up land reclamation through the NEWMAP-EIB project, recently funded with €175 million.
Plans are also underway to establish Forest Rangers to protect forests and curb illegal activities.
The minister expressed appreciation to the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation for the opportunity to engage with citizens and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustainable development and inclusive governance.
