By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has officially kick-started its flagship land restoration campaign across 11 desertification-prone states in Northern Nigeria, beginning with Jigawa State.
The initiative, designed to combat land degradation and build climate resilience, is in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on environmental sustainability, economic stability, and poverty reduction.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Jigawa State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Nura Ibrahim Kazaure, the Director-General of NAGGW, Alhaji Saleh Abubakar, described the advocacy tour as a strategic push to strengthen ties and assess the impact of ongoing interventions.
“Jigawa has consistently shown leadership in environmental partnerships. It’s only fitting that we begin our frontline advocacy here to deepen collaboration and fast-track restoration projects,” he said.
Abubakar praised the state government for its support, particularly in providing land and other resources essential for the Great Green Wall initiative. He emphasized that this phase would focus on reactivating and scaling up existing projects while mobilizing communities for long-term sustainability.
In his remarks, Dr. Kazaure reaffirmed Jigawa State’s commitment to environmental transformation, saying the partnership aligns with Governor Umar Namadi’s 12-Point Agenda on sustainable development.
“We are fully committed to supporting this national mandate. However, we urge the Agency to adopt stronger community engagement models to tackle issues like project vandalism,” he advised.
The NAGGW team also visited Suleiman Farms, where thousands of date palm seedlings are being raised as part of the agency’s bold plan to plant five million date palm trees across the 11 frontline states.
The visit marks a significant milestone in NAGGW’s nationwide campaign to restore degraded lands, enhance livelihoods, and foster a culture of environmental responsibility.
As the battle against desertification intensifies, the agency is calling for increased stakeholder engagement, cross-sector collaboration, and community ownership to ensure lasting impact.