By Abbas Nazil
The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has commenced formal operations from its headquarters Kano in compliance with a presidential directive issued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Saleh Abubakar, disclosed this during an inspection tour of the agency’s office facilities in Kano.
According to him, the relocation marks a strategic move aimed at strengthening the agency’s presence in states most affected by desertification and land degradation.
He explained that operating from Kano would enable the agency to work more closely with frontline communities, improve accessibility, deepen stakeholder engagement and enhance the implementation of programmes designed to restore degraded landscapes and improve livelihoods.
Abubakar said the move would further reinforce the agency’s commitment to environmental sustainability, land restoration and climate resilience across the Great Green Wall states.
He noted that the agency is expanding its collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other development partners to advance sustainable land management and environmental restoration initiatives within the region.
The Director-General stated that stronger partnerships with development organisations would support efforts to combat desertification, restore degraded ecosystems and improve the socio-economic well-being of communities affected by environmental challenges.
He also warned members of the public against individuals fraudulently claiming that lands belonging to the agency are available for sale.
Abubakar stressed that all lands under the ownership of NAGGW remain government assets dedicated exclusively to official purposes and are not available for sale under any circumstances.
He urged Nigerians to disregard such claims and avoid engaging in any transactions involving lands purportedly being sold on behalf of the agency.
The NAGGW chief further dismissed reports alleging that the agency’s facilities in Kano are underutilised.
He maintained that the office remains fully functional and continues to serve as a strategic centre for coordinating and implementing programmes aimed at tackling desertification, promoting sustainable land use and improving environmental conditions in the frontline states.
Abubakar expressed confidence that the relocation would improve operational efficiency and strengthen coordination among the states covered by the Great Green Wall initiative.
He added that the move would ultimately deliver greater benefits to communities through enhanced environmental restoration programmes, sustainable land management practices and climate resilience interventions designed to address the growing impacts of land degradation and climate change.
