FG Expresses Confidence on Success of Great Green Wall Project
Paul Obi The federal government has expressed confidence on the success and potentials of the Great Green Wall Project (GGWP) in transforming environmental degradation across the Sahel.
The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, made this known while commending efforts of the National Agency for Great Green Wall. Mallam made the commendation at a one-day stakeholders’ forum organised by the agency in Katsina state recently.
The Minister, represented by Mr. Ado Saminu, coordinator of the Afforestation Programme Coordinating Unit (APCU) Kano, said she was glad to be part of the progressive activities of the young Agency.
She explained that the efforts of the agency through activities such as shelterbelt development, provision of alternative cooking devices to the rural communities, provision of water to the communities within the GGW corridor, development and management of orchards and other lively activities, provision of improved seedlings to the affected communities, are very commendable.
She observed that the forum with its composition of researchers, farmers, extension workers, policy makers from the three tiers of government and other relevant interest groups from commerce and industries makes it an interesting and special forum.
Mallam said the launching provides opportunities for all stakeholders to explore ways of sustaining the GGW programme, stressing that collaboration needs to be strengthened, information shared widely and activities to be done frequently to realise synergies from the investments both from individuals.
These, she said, would address land degradation, provide job opportunities and generally enhance the economic activities of the affected communities.
The Minister said the GGW programme is a holistic approach being undertaken by the present administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in which stakeholders are encouraged to contribute their own quota through popular participation. She urged the forum to be all participative, and come up with approaches for the betterment of the Nigerian populace.
In his welcome address, the Director General, National Agency for Great Green Wall, Mr. Goni Ahmed, who was represented by Hajia Bintu Kolo Mohammed, Head, Community Mobilisation and Sensitisation NAGGW, said the conference is poised to address the status, challenges and prospects of the NAGGW to contribute to sustainable development through employment creation, product development, income generation and poverty reduction.
It is also hoped to further deliberate on ways to raise awareness about land: resources management in the drylands of Nigeria, guidelines and approaches to implementation of GGW programme, raise awareness on the management and utilisation of land resources in the dryland in Nigeria, agro-forestry as a sustainable land use management.
Ahmed urged the participants to share and exchange knowledge and experiences, indentify actions, interact, discuss and explore mechanism required to support and move the programme forward, and he solicited for support from the stakeholders towards the sustenance of the GGW programme.
The Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu, in his speech, appreciated the decision of the Agency for the choice of Katsina state as the host of the North-west forum. He said the GGW programme in Katsina state started planting activities in 2013 with the establishment of 26 kilometres shelterbelts.
The programme, which was officially launched in 2014 by the Governor of Katsina state, Dr. Ibrahim Shema at Daje in Baure Local Government Area of the state is also the GGW link between Katsina and Jigawa states.
He said the state Ministry of Environment has ensured that collaboration is effectively implemented in the Federal and State government efforts aimed at fighting desertification and environmental degradation challenges.