Abuja: Stakeholders in the environment and agriculture sectors have pledged to review Nigeria’s National Policy on Drought, Desertification and Land Degradation to address emerging challenges and strengthen food security. The commitment was made at an inception workshop on the policy review in Abuja and attended by representatives from the Federal Government, development partners, and relevant stakeholders.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, in his keynote address, the Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Lawal, stated that desertification, land degradation, and drought are significant global threats that exacerbate economic, social, and environmental challenges. Lawal, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Mahmud Kambari, emphasized the urgency of reviewing the policy, initially formulated in 2007, to reflect current realities and bridge existing gaps. He identified poverty, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and forced migration as some of the adverse impacts of unchecked land degradation and desertification in Nigeria.
Lawal highlighted that desertification is the most pressing environmental challenge in Nigeria’s dryland regions, including Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara States. He noted that between 50 and 75 percent of land in these states is affected by desert-like conditions, impoverishing over 27 million residents and threatening millions of livelihoods. These states cover about 38 percent of the country’s total land area. The dryland region is home to more than a quarter of Nigeria’s population and supports about 90 percent of the country’s cattle, two-thirds of goats and sheep, and nearly all donkeys, camels, and horses.
Lawal further explained that the region significantly contributes to the nation’s agricultural economy, producing key food crops such as rice and wheat, and export crops like cotton, groundnuts, and gum Arabic. Combating desertification and related challenges would require a holistic approach backed by sound policies and integrated programs addressing root causes, including sustainable land use, deforestation, and climate change. The revised policy must also consider related policies in agriculture, mining, urban development, and climate change to identify and bridge existing policy gaps.
Mr Dominique Kouacou, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Nigeria and ECOWAS, stated that the policy review reaffirmed the collective resolve to tackle one of Nigeria’s most urgent environmental threats. Kouacou stressed that healthy land is central to sustainable food production and national well-being, noting that 95 percent of the food consumed originates from soil. He said the FAO’s global strategy towards achieving the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is built on transforming agrifood systems through better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all.
Kouacou called for a revised policy that reflects today’s climate realities, incorporates new knowledge, and aligns with international best practices. He emphasized the opportunity to bridge gaps, enhance multi-sectoral collaboration, and take bold action toward durable solutions. FAO remains committed to supporting Nigeria through sustainable land and water management, ecosystem restoration, and community resilience.
Also speaking, Mr Abdulhamid Umar, National Coordinator of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, stated that the review is necessary to update the policy to meet current climate-related challenges affecting vulnerable populations.