NAGGW RE-AFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO COMBATING DESERTIFICATION AT COP16 08-12-24
By Sadiq Aminu The national Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has reiterated its commitment to addressing land degradation and desertification in Nigeria.
Speaking at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Director-General of the agency, Alhaji Sale Abubakar, highlighted Nigeria’s achievements under the Great Green Wall initiative.
The event also saw active participation from the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas Lawal, who led the Nigerian delegation.
In his address, Abubakar emphasized the importance of the convention in fostering global action against desertification and climate challenges.
He noted that NAGGW’s restoration of degraded lands, reforestation programmes, and community empowerment efforts serve as a model for international cooperation.
“COP16 provides a platform to turn global commitments into tangible actions, and Nigeria is proud to contribute to this vision,”.
The D-G outlined Nigeria’s role in the regional Great Green Wall initiative, spanning 11 African countries, as an example of effective collaboration for sustainable development.
He revealed how the agency’s community-driven projects, including sustainable agriculture and agroforestry, have transformed lives in northern Nigeria.
“Restoring land is not just an environmental necessity but an economic opportunity,” Abubakar added, calling for stronger international partnerships to bridge the climate financing gap.
During the conference, the NAGGW showcased its success in implementing early warning systems and fostering peace through resource-sharing agreements among farmers and pastoralists.
The agency also hosted a side event on integrating women and youth into land restoration efforts, sharing grassroots success stories.
The Director General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall NAGGW Alhaji Sale Abubakar concluded by calling for cross-regional collaboration to address the shared challenges of land degradation, stating, “The challenges transcend borders, and sharing knowledge is key to achieving our collective goals.”