By Faridat Salifu
Nigeria’s 650,000-square-kilometre rangelands are facing growing pressure from desertification, overgrazing, agricultural expansion and climate change, threatening livestock production, food security and the livelihoods of rural communities.
Environment Minister Balarabe Abbas Lawal said the degradation was particularly concerning in northern Nigeria, where rangelands support much of the country’s livestock sector and provide a foundation for pastoral livelihoods and rural economies.
Lawal raised the concern in Abuja on Monday during Nigeria’s commemoration of the 2026 World Desertification and Drought Day. He was represented by Etim William, Director of the Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought Management Department in the ministry.
He said the deterioration of rangelands was increasing the vulnerability of communities while putting additional pressure on an already fragile food system.
“Rangelands cover 650,000 square kilometres, largely in the northern states. They support most of Nigeria’s livestock sector; they are central to pastoral livelihoods, food security and rural economies,” Lawal said.
The minister said a significant portion of the country’s rangelands had already been degraded despite their economic and social importance.
The condition of Nigeria’s grazing landscapes is also becoming increasingly linked to persistent farmer-herder tensions.
Lawal attributed part of the conflict to shrinking grazing areas, drought and climate change, which are intensifying competition for land and water.
He said Nigeria should use the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists to give greater attention to the ecosystems and communities that depend on them.
Rangelands, he added, should not be viewed as “empty or unused lands” but as productive ecosystems that support communities, economies and cultures.
The minister called for greater recognition of pastoral communities and the incorporation of indigenous knowledge into efforts to manage and restore grazing areas.
Lawal said the government was scaling up programmes aimed at reversing land degradation and improving resilience to drought.
The initiatives include the Great Green Wall Initiative, the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes project and the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative.
Other priorities include afforestation and reforestation, watershed restoration, sustainable rangeland management and community-based management of natural resources.
The minister urged governments at all levels to incorporate sustainable land management into development plans and budgets.
He also called on traditional and community leaders to encourage sustainable grazing, rotational pasture use and conflict-sensitive management of natural resources.
Farmers and pastoralists, he said, should adopt climate-smart practices that improve soil health and conserve water.
The effects of desertification, land degradation and drought extend beyond the environment, with declining land productivity posing a direct threat to food security.
Lawal warned that competition over increasingly limited productive land and clean water could further increase tensions between communities.
He said restoring degraded land could help improve drought resilience, increase carbon sequestration and create opportunities for new green economic activities.
The government has identified water harvesting, improved early-warning systems, community contingency planning, support for pastoral mobility and recognition of customary grazing routes among its priorities.
Lawal also advocated stronger conflict-resolution mechanisms and improved tenure security for pastoral communities.
He said sustainable livelihoods could be developed through agroforestry, sustainable livestock value chains and ecotourism, while private-sector and international climate finance would be needed to support restoration at scale.
The minister also called for increased investment in scientific research, innovation and capacity building to ensure that land-use practices improve soil fertility, conserve water, protect biodiversity and raise productivity.
Akintunde Babatunde, Executive Director of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, said addressing land degradation and drought required coordinated action involving government, communities, civil society and the private sector.
He said the theme of this year’s observance, “Rangelands: Recognise, Respect, Restore,” highlighted the importance of rangelands to livelihoods, livestock production, biodiversity and food security.
Babatunde said desertification and drought were already affecting the resilience of communities that depend heavily on agriculture and natural resources.
He called for stronger policies, sustainable land management and meaningful community participation in addressing the challenges.
The 2026 World Desertification and Drought Day was hosted globally by Kenya under the same theme, while Nigeria’s national commemoration in Abuja formed part of activities ahead of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, scheduled for August 17–28 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Lawal said the ceremonial tree planting held during the event should be viewed as more than a symbolic exercise, describing it as a commitment to turn environmental pledges into practical action.
He urged stronger collaboration among government institutions, communities, development partners and the private sector to restore degraded landscapes and build resilient ecosystems capable of supporting sustainable livelihoods and national development.
