Council Unveils Agenda To Combat Desertification, Poverty

Newly inaugurated chairman of the National Council for the Great Green Wall, Senatus Magnus Abe, has unveiled an agenda to combat desertification, reduce poverty and promote sustainable development across Nigeria’s dryland regions.

Abe made this known at the induction and familiarisation programme for new board members of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), held in Abuja under the theme: “Green Leadership, Good Governance: Aligning Roles for Environmental Impact.”

A press statement signed by the agency’s head, Information and Public Relations, Amina Ahmed Garba revealed that the chairman expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal for entrusting him with the responsibility to lead the Council. He pledged to uphold the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability in steering the affairs of the Great Green Wall project.

Describing the initiative as a “vision of survival, resilience, and hope,” Sen. Abe noted that millions of Nigerians depend on the programme’s success to reclaim degraded lands, rebuild livelihoods and strengthen climate resilience.

He said the Great Green Wall represents far more than tree planting, “It embodies a national mission to restore the environment, foster peace, and alleviate poverty in communities threatened by desertification and drought”.

He further emphasised the need to transform the agency into a hub for green jobs and sustainable livelihoods through agroforestry, renewable energy, water harvesting and land restoration.

In his address, the director general and chief executive officer of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Saleh Abubakar, commended the inauguration of the third council, describing it as a renewed call to service. He reminded members that their appointment came at a time when the world faces grave environmental challenges, with desertification, drought and food insecurity posing existential threats to millions of Nigerians.

Abubakar urged members to embody green leadership defined by empathy, foresight and scientific innovation. He called for the alignment of vision with execution, stressing that the agency’s policies must translate into tangible results for communities across the affected regions.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to transparency, collaboration and community-driven action, adding that the Great Green Wall must stand as a symbol of good governance and environmental stewardship for generations to come.