IDERRCN: Renewed Push To Curb Desertification, Empower Communities

The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) is set to strengthen its efforts in tackling desertification and related environmental challenges through the implementation of the Integrated Dryland Ecosystem Rehabilitation, Regeneration, and Conservation (IDERRCN) Project. This project is supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The IDERRCN project aims to restore approximately 2,500 hectares of degraded land and rehabilitate an additional 3,000 hectares to enhance biodiversity through improved land use practices. It is expected to benefit over one million people across eleven frontline states, including Kebbi. The project also seeks to improve the livelihoods of farmers, fishers, and producers of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) by adding value to their products and promoting sustainable land management.

As part of the project’s roll-out, a NAGGW team recently visited Kebbi State to mobilise support from the state government, traditional institutions, and other key stakeholders. The visit aligns with the federal government’s broader strategy to address desertification by curbing indiscriminate tree felling and promoting environmental sustainability.

A significant milestone in the project’s development was a validation workshop on the Project Appraisal Document (PAD) for the $3 million IDERRCN project held in Birnin Kebbi.
In a remark at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Adam Kambari, represented by Dr. Alenyi Innocent Onu, Director of Planning, Policy, and Coordination at NAGGW, highlighted the initiative’s importance. He recalled that the initiative has been in development since 2021 and has consistent technical and financial backing from UNEP and GEF.
Kambari emphasised the urgency of the intervention, citing the escalating impacts of land degradation and climate change in Nigeria’s drylands. He noted that the validation workshop is a key step toward finalising the PAD for submission to the GEF Secretariat by June 20, 2025, ahead of full-scale implementation.

Director General of NAGGW, Saleh Abubakar, MFR, represented by the Director of Afforestation and Land Management, Alhaji Ahmed Majidadi Bagudo, described the IDERRCN project as a vital element of the regional Transformation Approach to Large Scale Investment in Support of the Implementation of the Great Green Wall Initiative (TALSISI-GGWI),” approved by the GEF Council in June 2024.

The DG explained that the project targets 5,500 hectares, with 2,500 hectares set for restoration and 3,000 hectares for improved land use in protected landscapes. He stressed the importance of ensuring the project’s design is inclusive, responsive to community needs, and geared toward sustainable impact.
It is worth noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has revived and expanded this initiative, which was first introduced during the Goodluck Jonathan era, to include the eleven frontline states severely affected by desert encroachment. In Kebbi State, five local government areas of Argungu, Arewa, Augie, Dandi, and Bunza, have been earmarked as beneficiaries.

During the visit to Kebbi, DG Abubakar, represented by Bagudo, engaged with state officials and stakeholders. Bagudo emphasized that although the project will be community-driven, it will also be closely monitored by the National Project Coordinator and local authorities to ensure accountability and effectiveness.

Deputy Governor, Senator Abubakar Umar Tafida, who represented Governor Nasiru Idris, received the NAGGW delegation. He expressed the state government’s strong support for the initiative, highlighting its potential to improve ecological resilience and rural livelihoods.

Governor Idris decried the harmful effects of indiscriminate tree cutting and lauded the NAGGW for choosing the five local government areas in Kebbi State. He described the project as a bold step towards sustainable ecological restoration and promised full support and cooperation from the state government.
The NAGGW team also paid courtesy visits to the traditional rulers of Gwandu, Argungu, and the District Head of Kamba. During these interactions, Bagudo reiterated the importance of traditional institutions in mobilizing community support. He disclosed plans to plant economic trees such as date palms and mangoes to provide both environmental protection and economic benefits.

An interactive session was also held with community members to discuss issues concerning land ownership, site identification, and farm development. These engagements formed part of broader efforts to reintroduce and reinvigorate the IDERRCN project in Kebbi State.

Ultimately, the IDERRCN initiative is a promising step toward combating desertification, restoring degraded ecosystems, and empowering local communities with sustainable livelihoods in Nigeria’s vulnerable dryland regions.