By Dauda Abbas
Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Dr. Yusuf Maina-Bukar, has made known the scorecard of achievements even as he marks his first anniversary in office.
Addressing a press briefing at his Abuja office on 4 April 2023, the NAGGW boss said over the past year he had worked to provide the required leadership, dedication and commitment in advancing the mandate of the agency.
At the core of the Nigeria component of the great green wall initiative is reversing desertification, land degradation, and mitigating the effort of climate change in the 11 frontline states of Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Bauchi, Gombe and Adamawa.
He said, “We have therefore focused on implementing afforestation and reforestation activities, land restoration and sustainable land management practices and have made notable achievements that demonstrate a positive impact on the environment and the livelihoods of communities in the affected areas.”
Yusuf stated that some of the key achievements under the period which had been established were shelterbelts, woodlots, orchards and most recently Institutional planting, social forestry, farm forestry, marketable gardens and large scale restoration of degraded land to ameliorate the challenges of the environment in the affected communities.
He continued, “More so, we have introduced techniques, strategies and approaches to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the great green wall afforestation and reforestation programmes such as the half moon and zai methods of planting that enhances seedling work for use of the water box water retention technology for irrigation that enhances seedling and tree survival rate by 90% during dry season and reduces the carbon footprints released in the environment.
“During this period the great green wall programme has been able to provide numerous job opportunities for young people and women in rural communities, by training them on sustainable land management techniques, supporting them to establish tree nurseries, Forest plantations and other skills to improve their economic conditions. Over the years, the agency has employed different strategies, sensitizations and awareness programmes, community stakeholders consultations, school outreach programmes to reach out to our operational communities in furtherance of (PAGGW) side meetings at COP27.
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“In Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, it was agreed and requested for NAGGW member countries to nominate three youth champions to take part in the recently concluded 1st edition of the pan African agency of the great green wall PAGGW, green youth caravan that toured Senegal, Mauritania and Mali.
“Furthermore, in a bid to reposition the agency for effective service delivery, we introduced various reforms and initiatives such as establishing the security services unit to coordinate security support services and reduce operational risks faced by staff of the agency in the security prone areas of the service improvement unit (RCSIC) to improve service delivery and work ethics.”
The DG added that to date the agency had trained more than 1,367 rural community people among the woman and youth in various livelihood activities.
According to him the agency has also trained 275 farmers on climate smart agriculture techniques and skills required during dry season farming.
He added that over the course of the year the agency would continue to support various local and international trainings of personnel to improve capacity and productivity within its fold.
He lauded President Muhammadu Buhari over the country’s efforts on the agency.
Maina-Bukar continued: “In addition, we have to recognize Nigeria president’s commitment and support to the great green wall initiative. The agency sought for and obtained presidential approval to clear Nigeria outstanding contributions to the convention of the pan African agency of the great green wall from 2018 to date to the tune of USD 654,291.00. Also approved was a pledged sum of USD 550,000.00 as Nigeria’s voluntary contribution towards the construction of the pan African agency for the great green wall headquarters in Nouakchott, Mauritania and purchase of three vehicles for use of the pan African agency of the great green wall secretariat in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
“We’re delighted with the support we have received from his Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, the honourable Minister for Environment, Mohammed H. Abdullahi, the honourable minister of state for environment, Udi Odum, the management and the entire staff of the NAGGW, our local and international technical and financial partners, and communities of the 11 frontline states.”
