GEF Assembly: Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment To Land Restoration

,The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to global environmental governance and sustainable land management in line with the objectives of the Great Green Wall Initiative across the Sahel region.

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Saleh Abubakar, stated this at the 8th Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Abubakar, who attended the conference alongside the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said Nigeria’s participation reflects President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s determination to tackle the impacts of climate change, particularly in the 11 frontline states.

In a statement, he said the global gathering brought together world leaders, policymakers, environmental experts, and development partners to address pressing environmental and sustainable development challenges.

“The Assembly serves as a strategic platform for advancing international cooperation on climate action, biodiversity conservation, land restoration, sustainable agriculture, and environmental sustainability,” he said.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with global stakeholders to mobilise support for Nigeria’s Great Green Wall programme and other environmental restoration efforts aimed at combating desertification, land degradation, improving livelihoods, and enhancing food security.

Abubakar also called for increased international support to help address desertification in northern Nigeria, restore degraded ecosystems, and strengthen the role of local communities in environmental protection initiatives.