‘GGW programme will curb desertification in the North’

Recently, the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) was in the North to combat desertifi cation and improve the livelihood of the people. HELEN OJI reports

Desertifi cation is certainly one of the greatest ecological disasters in Nigeria with propensity to undermine t h e s o c i o – e c o n o m i c development of the entire country. The problem which is much more palpable in the 11 frontline states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara and Yobe threatens the livelihoods of over 40 million people and engulfi ng about 2,168sq km of rangeland and cropland each year, obliterating human settlements, inducing forced migration, exacerbating rural poverty and social confl icts. Populations in these states are among the poorest and most vulnerable to climatic va r i a b i l i t y a n d l a n d degradation.

They depend heavily on the fragile ecosystems for rain-fed agriculture, fisheries, and livestock management to sustain their livelihoods. Th ese constitute the primary sectors of employment in the region. Despite numerous policies, strategies and actions adopted to control it, the problem of desertifi cation in Nigeria remains resolute and threatening the sustainable development and security of the aff ected states. The Great Green Wall Programme is surely one of the most promising panaceas to the problems of land degradation and desertifi cation in Nigeria and quite achievable. It is a mechanism that can be used to ensure the sustainable development of the affected rural communities in the dry lands.

Th e success however of the programme lies on building an eff ective and coalesced actions at local level, taking a holistic approach to supporting people’s livelihoods, building adaptation measures and reduce their vulnerability to environmental shocks, particularly climate change. C o n s e q u e n t l y , t h e participatory approach by involving local communities should be strengthened in all the interventions, as well as improve communication with other partners at all levels until a sustainable environment is achieved for the present and future generations. Meanwhile, Th e Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril, who was on a monitoring tour to Sokoto and Kebbi states, two out of the 11 frontline states participating in the GGW programme, said the programme is very serious and signifi cant because of its holistic approach. He said: “It is not only about tree planting but also about improving livelihood of the people and promoting alternative and renewable sources of energy. “Th e trees protect the land against wind erosion; serve as sources of fuel wood, enhance soil fertility and provide fodder for livestock.” He further noted that the variety of trees planted are doing well even in an environment where the land is degraded and has lost its fertility, saying that it is because of the dedication and commitment of the NAGGW towards ensuring that the programme succeeds. Jibril insisted that the programme should be driven fully by the state government with active support from the federal government. According to him, the federal government will be facilitators and believe that the existing partnership is yielding results from what is on ground so far. Th eminister urged that the partnership should continue so as to counter the menace of desert encroachment. He made an appeal to other States apart from the 11 frontline states that are likely to encounter desertifi cation to embark on series of environmental activities to avoid environmental hazards. “The Federal Executive Council has approved the policy on gas along with petroleum to lay a solid gas provision, including piping to convey gas for domestic use which will go a long way to reducing the use of fuel wood, in the near future,” he added. He said the FEC has also approved a new initiative of Afforestation programme and to come up with a law to prohibit exportation of wood. He called on the media to step up in propagating the Aff orestation programme. A l s o s p e a k i n g w a s the Director-General, N A G G W, M r. G o n i Ahmed, who showed the minister round some of the project sites in Angwan Lalle, Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto state and Bachaka in Arewa LGA in Kebbi state said the agency is trying its best to ensure that the plans are sustained to attain the mandate of the Pan African Great Green Wall programme. Ahmed said the project like any other government p ro j e c t h a s s u f f e re d some challenges of theft and vandalisation saying on several occasion the Agency has replaced stolen summersible pumps, fencing wires, taps and many others. He called on the states and communities to take seriously the laudable eff orts of the federal government saying that at the end they are to take ownership and so should guard and protect the facilities brought to their domain.

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