Stakeholders move to combat land degradation in Northern Nigeria
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By George George Idowu
Various stakeholders in Abuja have reaffirmed their commitment in addressing land degradation across 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mahmud Kambari, made this declaration during a training program focusing on Land Restoration Techniques on Wednesday.
The training, facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the United Nations and the Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, funded by the World Bank, marks a significant collaboration aimed at environmental conservation and sustainability.
Kambari emphasized the pivotal role of the ACReSAL project in promoting environmental conservation efforts.
He underscored that every stakeholder bears the responsibility of land restoration to preserve ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate climate change impacts for the welfare of communities.
Dr. Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator-General of the National Park Service, highlighted the importance of effective protection measures for the seven parks to counter challenges posed by climate change.
He acknowledged the benefits derived from ACReSAL projects, particularly in solar power installations, which have facilitated park management.
Dr. Moctar Sacande, the Land Technical Officer of the FAO project, emphasized the significance of the training for the successful implementation of the project.
He commended ACReSAL and the World Bank for their roles in project implementation and financial support, emphasizing the training’s scope across the 19 northern states.
Abdulhamid Umar, the National Project Coordinator for ACReSAL, stressed the importance of capacity building in landscape restoration efforts.
He highlighted FAO’s track record in addressing landscape degradation challenges and emphasized the training’s purpose of equipping selected stakeholders with skills to be cascaded from Abuja to the community level.
Andrews Seglah, representing the World Bank, hailed the ACReSAL project as a significant stride towards achieving sustainable landscape restoration and environmental cleanliness.
He assured continued support from the World Bank and urged participant states to disseminate knowledge regionally, especially at the grassroots level, for environmental sustainability.