Nigeria has called on the African Development Bank (AfDB) to support the country’s National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) in tackling desertification and land degradation.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, made the appeal during a bilateral meeting with AfDB President, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. The meeting was convened at the instance of Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
The NAGGW was established to address land degradation, combat desertification, boost food security, and help communities adapt to climate change across 11 frontline states: Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa. It also serves as Nigeria’s focal agency for the African Union’s Great Green Wall initiative for the Sahara and Sahel.
“The agency is responsible for fencing the Sahelian part of Africa to combat desertification,” Lawal said. “I want to plead that you look at what we have done so far in addressing environmental degradation in the frontline states. We have also submitted a proposal on clean cooking policy, which is directly linked to afforestation by addressing deforestation and health challenges. In rural areas, many women cook with firewood, which exposes them and their children to serious health risks.”
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Alhaji Ahmed Dangiwa, also appealed to the AfDB president to support efforts in addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit. He stressed that the housing sector required substantial funding, noting its potential for high returns on investment.
“We want your intervention in housing development,” Dangiwa said. “Housing is a key sector, just like agriculture, health, and education. With your support, we can develop a framework for affordable housing for Nigerians.”
In his response, Dr. Tah assured that the AfDB under his leadership would provide the needed backing to Nigeria.
“My vision for the bank is not just as a lending institution but as a catalyst for mobilising capital from across the world to transform our continent,” he said. “We will waste no effort in supporting Nigeria, particularly in human capital development and adding value to the agricultural sector.”
