In keeping with renewed efforts by the federal government to push back desertification in parts of the agricultural lands in Northern states, the Ministry of Environment has signed a Memorandum of Understand (MoU) with the leadership of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Business Hilights recalls that the scheme was part of the key projects embarked by the former Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed who since January 1, this year assumed office as the Under Secretary of the United Nation (UN), a proposal offered to her by the world body on recognition of her relentless efforts in global affairs over the years.
Details of the project show that the ‘Great Green Wall’, is aimed at establishing a 15km wide and 1,500km long permanent shelter belt from Kebbi to Borno State and spanning over other eleven states of the federation.
On maturity, the project will deliver about one million trees annually through the involvement of Corps members nationwide.
Making comments shortly after the deal was sealed in Abuja, Director general of the NYSC, Brigadier General Sulaiman Kazaure, recalled that “the scourge of desertification, gully erosion as well as flooding and environmental pollution are enormous; hence the need for the government and civil societies to collaborate and evolve strategies for massive afforestation”.
Represented by the Director, Community Development Service and Special Projects, Mrs. Rhoda Kwaki, NYSC DG argued that different types of land degradation processes had posed threat to economic development and security of the nation.
“The challenges of erosion and desertification in Nigeria are enormous and urgent steps need to be taken to address these.
“The mass afforestation programme is, therefore, a governmental effort at addressing the trend in forest depletion which includes free seedling, tree plantation establishment, shelter belt development and public enlightenment targeting the rural communities,” Kazaure added.
Responding, a senior staff of the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Ehi-Ebewete, said the partnership would deepen the target of re-foresting desert ravaged states of the North in no time.
