Abuja: The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has appealed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, for support in realizing its ambitious 50 million date palm project. The initiative aims to combat desertification and restore degraded lands across the 11 frontline states in northern Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Saleh Abubakar, the Director-General of NAGGW, made the request during a courtesy visit to Sen. George Akume. He shared that the date palm project was launched during the agency’s 10th anniversary in August as part of efforts to protect the environment. The agency has already distributed five million date palm seedlings and plans to expand this to 50 million by 2030.
Abubakar emphasized the importance of the initiative for economic empowerment and combating land degradation. He noted that the NAGGW, established in 2015, focuses on tackling desertification, boosting food security, and helping communities adapt to climate change in the affected regions.
The agency serves as Nigeria’s focal point for the African Union’s Great Green Wall of the Sahara and the Sahel project. Its mission is to reverse land degradation, prevent biodiversity loss, and ensure ecosystems are resilient to climate change, thereby enhancing human welfare and contributing to poverty eradication.
Abubakar highlighted the need for increased government support to secure more funding for the 50 million date palm project and other initiatives aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He also stressed the importance of involving local communities to ensure the sustainability of the projects.
Responding to the request, Sen. Akume acknowledged the agency’s efforts in mitigating climate change impacts and pledged government support to help the agency fulfill its objectives.