The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing environmental sustainability across Nigeria.
Senator Magnus Abe, Chairman of the NAGGW Council, gave the assurance at the agency’s 3rd National Council meeting, induction, and familiarization session held on Wednesday in Abuja.
The event, themed “Green Leadership, Good Governance: Aligning with the Renewed Hope of President Bola Tinubu,” brought together stakeholders to discuss strategies for environmental restoration and sustainable development.
Abe noted that many communities across the country face numerous challenges requiring collective attention.
“From infrastructure development to social welfare and environmental sustainability, we have a responsibility to ensure that our decisions benefit everyone,” he said.
The chairman explained that the Great Green Wall initiative was more than just another government programme, describing it as “a vision of survival, resilience, and hope” for Nigerians whose lives and livelihoods are threatened daily by desertification, land degradation, drought, and the impacts of climate change.
Abe also assured that the agency would tackle environmental challenges in the Niger Delta, a region long affected by ecological degradation.
“I understand how environmental injustice and neglect can breed poverty, anger, and instability. I have seen how oil spills, gas flaring, and ecological damage have shaped the realities of people,” he said.
“The Niger Delta taught me that when people feel excluded from the benefits of natural resources, they resist. But when they are empowered as custodians of their environment, they thrive. This philosophy will guide my stewardship of the Great Green Wall.”
Speaking on the plight of those in the Sahel region, Abe stressed that desertification in northern Nigeria is not an abstract concept but a harsh reality that manifests through shrinking farmlands, drying water sources, forced migration, and displacement.
“Beyond the frontline states, the implications reverberate across the entire nation. When water disappears, health and livelihoods are at risk,” he said.
“Therefore, the work of this agency is not just about planting trees—it is about planting hope, restoring dignity, reducing poverty, and building peace.”
In his remarks, the Director-General of NAGGW, Dr. Yusuf Maina Bukar (represented by Saleh Abubakar, Council Secretary), said that “green leadership is not just about planting trees, but about planting hope.”
“It is about leading with empathy, foresight, and a firm commitment to sustainability,” he said.
He noted that the world is currently facing unprecedented environmental challenges, as climate change continues to fuel droughts, floods, and wildfires globally.
“It also reminds us that leadership is not about titles, but about responsibility—a new kind of leadership that is visionary, inclusive, and accountable,” he added.
Abubakar emphasized that good governance is not just about rules, but about making choices that deliver real impact.
“Good governance is the backbone of lasting progress. It demands transparency, integrity, and collaboration,” he said. “Let us therefore build a system that is equitable, efficient, and accountable. Together, we will uphold high standards of accountability and public trust.”
He explained that the Great Green Wall began as a vision of the African Union to create a mosaic of green and productive landscapes stretching across the Sahel.
As a signatory, Nigeria initially established a Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) within the Federal Ministry of Environment to coordinate national activities.
“Over time, as the scale and urgency of land degradation grew, it became clear that a more robust and autonomous institution was needed,” Abubakar said.
This, he noted, led to the enactment of the law establishing the NAGGW, with a statutory mandate to coordinate, implement, and monitor the Great Green Wall Programme in Nigeria.
The agency, he added, has also initiated the planting of 50 million date palms across frontline states—a landmark effort that integrates ecological restoration with food security, economic empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods.
In a related presentation, environmental consultant Mr. Sylvester Okonofua called for improved safety measures for field staff and the provision of hazard allowances.
