By Faridat Salifus
Nigeria’s vegetation cover has dropped to less than 10 per cent, a situation experts warn could worsen insecurity, desertification, and climate impacts if unchecked.
At a recent tree-planting exercise in Abuja, the Nigerian Army and conservation groups emphasized that protecting the environment is tied directly to protecting the country.
The initiative—led by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), and funded by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc—saw more than 20,000 indigenous trees planted at Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment.
Major-General J.Y. Maina, representing the Chief of Army Staff, said environmental degradation undermines national stability and called tree planting “a strategic investment in our collective future.”
NCF Zonal Coordinator Garba Boyi said the Foundation’s Green Recovery Nigeria program is designed to reverse vegetation loss, stressing that private sector support is vital to complement government efforts.
The project highlights how collaboration between the military, government institutions, and private companies could slow deforestation while boosting biodiversity and climate resilience.
