By Gloria Akudoro Abuja
The Ministry of Environment has announced that Nigeria will assume the leadership of PAN African Great Green Wall later this month.
The Honourable Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, on Tuesday made the announcement while briefing the press on the Ogoni Land Clean-Up Project in Abuja.
He said with the Presidency, it will facilitate access to more funding, collaborations and raise ambition on Fight Against Desertification and improvement in Afforestation and Reforestation programmes.
The Minister said, as part to acceleraate the implementation of the Great Green Wall, the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) is equally improving the well-being and reduceing vulnerability of the those living in dryland through an improved use of land and other natural resources for sustainable development.
He therefore highlighted some achievements made by the Ministry such as raising of 15,611,105 seedlings, establishment of 4,701.58 hectares of plantation (Shelteebelt, Woodlot, Orchard, Acacia, Senegal and indigenous Tree species), construction of 202 solar powered boreholes, procurement and distribution of 1,705 Units of solar home lightening system in the 11 frontline states, provision of 16 Nos solar street light in four rural markets in Kaugama and Birniwa LGAs of Jigawa State.
Others include procurement and distribution of off-road motorcycles for the enhancement of tree felling in Baturiya forest in Kirikasama LGA, Jigawa State, training of 1.1927 women and youth in various entrepreneurial and agro business skills as well as conducting 55 school outreach Programmes in the 11 frontline states.
Abubakar also stressed that with the collaborative effort of the Federal Department of Forestry (DDF) and Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) have recorded huge increase from a baseline of 292,140 in 2019 to 18,500,000 in 2020 towards fulfilment of Mr President pledge of planting 25m trees.
“Though the target could not be achieved because tlof the effect of covid-19 pandemic. We are hopeful to meeting the target in 2021. Currently a capacity of planting 100 trees is being strategized in collaboration with all relevant implementating agencies of the ministry,” he said.