By Nkechi Eze
The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has appealed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, for enhanced support to scale up its climate-resilience programmes, including the ambitious 50 million date palm project aimed at combating desertification and restoring degraded land across northern Nigeria.
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NAGGW, Saleh Abubakar, MFR, made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the SGF in his office in Abuja. He explained that the agency launched the 50 million date palm initiative during its 10th anniversary celebration in August 2025 as part of a long-term strategy to halt desert encroachment in 11 frontline states.
According to him, NAGGW has already distributed no fewer than five million date palm seedlings across Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa, with a target of scaling up to 50 million by the year 2030.
“Your Excellency, I’m here to solicit your support in combating desertification, land degradation and our 50 million date palm initiative for economic empowerment,” Abubakar said. “As you know, sir, the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) was established in 2015 to address land degradation, desertification, boost food security and support communities to adapt to climate change in the frontline states.”
He emphasised that NAGGW remains Nigeria’s focal point for implementing the African Union’s Great Green Wall of the Sahara and Sahel initiative, noting that the agency’s mission is to halt and reverse land degradation, safeguard biological diversity, build climate-resilient ecosystems, and ensure the continued delivery of essential ecological services that support livelihoods and reduce poverty.
Abubakar added that since assuming office over a year ago, he has intensified efforts to engage communities and critical stakeholders in the affected states to ensure greater ownership of the agency’s interventions.
“We need your improved support to enable the agency get more funding to finance the 50 million date palm project and other initiatives that are in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” he stated.
Responding, the SGF, Senator George Akume, commended NAGGW for its work in mitigating the impacts of climate change across northern Nigeria and pledged the Federal Government’s continued support to ensure the agency fully delivers on its mandate.
