Vice-President Kashim Shettima has announced that Nigeria plans to plant 20 billion trees during the next rainy season, as part of its national reforestation and environmental sustainability drive.
Shettima made this commitment on Saturday following a tour of agricultural and industrial facilities in Ethiopia.
He visited Adama Dairy Farms, Luke Avocado Nursery, Shera Dibandiba Mojo Family Integrated Farm, Biyyo Poultry Farm, and Bishoftu Pea Farm—efforts intended to strengthen agricultural and industrial ties between the two countries.
A key highlight of the visit was the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, which Shettima described as a mutually beneficial model that combines environmental restoration with job creation.
He praised the initiative as “a model for combining climate action with economic opportunity” and urged Nigeria to emulate Ethiopia’s success. He said: “We intend to plant 20 billion trees in the next rainy season. It requires a lot of planning, energy and drive, which Ethiopia managed to galvanise its population into doing.”
He added, “I was overwhelmed with joy that the real economic renaissance of Africa is in the offing. Ethiopia has become a pathfinder, a frontrunner in us reclaiming our pride and our continent. We are mightily proud of them.”
Shettima highlighted Ethiopia’s achievement in wheat self-sufficiency, noting that the country has shifted from importing $1 billion worth of wheat annually to exporting to neighbouring countries like Djibouti and Kenya.
He emphasised the value of Nigeria and Ethiopia working together: “If Nigeria and Ethiopia work, Africa will work. Jointly, the two of us constitute over 350 million people—more than the population of the United States. We have to make these two countries work harmoniously for the betterment of our continent.”
Dr Kingsley Uzoma, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, described the visit as phenomenal and reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s backing for Nigeria to replicate Ethiopia’s agricultural transformation.
He said, “President Tinubu has a whole lot of respect for the people of Ethiopia. We came here to understudy what we have seen and report back to him. I believe that he will replicate this in a much stronger and bolder scope.”
Uzoma noted that Nigeria is pursuing economic diversification strategies to reduce its dependence on oil revenues, with increased focus on agricultural exports such as avocado, pineapple, mango, cashew, and cocoa.
