By Salisu Sani-Idris
Nigeria has restated its commitment to advancing global environmental governance, biodiversity conservation, and land restoration in line with the objectives of the Great Green Wall Initiative across the Sahel region.
The focus, according to the Nigerian government, is on combating climate change, expanding regional ecosystem partnerships, and scaling up the Great Green Wall Initiative to reverse desertification across its northern frontline states.
The Director General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Saleh Abubakar, stated this during the 8th Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Abubakar is among Nigeria’s delegation, led by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, to the high-level global event.
He said the participation of the Nigerian agency underscores the determination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to address the impact of climate change in Nigeria, especially in the 11 front line states.
The NAGGW DG explained that the gathering brings together world leaders, policymakers, environmental experts, development partners, and stakeholders to deliberate on pressing environmental challenges and sustainable development priorities.
“The Assembly serves as a strategic platform for advancing international cooperation on climate action, biodiversity conservation, land restoration, sustainable agriculture, and environmental sustainability,” he stated
The NAGGW boss reiterated the agency’s firm resolve to strengthen partnerships with global partners with a view to mobilising support for Nigeria’s Great Green Wall initiative and other environmental restoration programmes targeted at combating desertification, land degradation, improving livelihoods, enhancing food security, building resilient.
Abubakar sought enhanced support of global partners to enable the agency address desertification in the northern Nigeria and restore degraded ecosystems, and strengthening the role of local communities.