The federal government has launched the 2026 tree-planting campaign and inaugurated the National Steering Committee for the Sustainable Agricultural Restoration and Growth for Green Wall Areas (SURAGGWA) in Kano.

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, performed the inauguration on Thursday during the commemoration of the 2026 Great Green Wall Day at the headquarters of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) in Kano.

Mr Lawal said the initiative underscored Nigeria’s commitment to restoring degraded landscapes, combating desertification and building climate-resilient communities across the country.

He said environmental sustainability remained central to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that healthy ecosystems were essential for food security, economic growth and the well-being of Nigerians.

The minister commended the Kano State government for hosting the event and supporting efforts to promote environmental protection and sustainable development.

According to him, this year’s theme, “The Green Shield: Restoring Landscapes to Silence the Sand and Dust Storms,” reflects the urgent need to tackle the increasing impact of sand and dust storms in Northern Nigeria and the wider Sahel region.

“The solution lies in restoring our degraded landscapes. The Great Green Wall Initiative was conceived as Africa’s flagship response to desertification and climate change,” he said.

He said Nigeria’s implementation of the initiative extended beyond tree planting to include land restoration, biodiversity conservation, livelihood improvement and enhanced food security across the 11 frontline states.

He listed the states as Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.

He said the relocation of the NAGGW headquarters to Kano recognised the state’s strategic role in implementing the Great Green Wall Initiative.

He disclosed that the agency had raised more than 48 million indigenous and exotic tree seedlings since its establishment, supporting the development of shelterbelts, community woodlots, orchards, plantations and the restoration of degraded lands.

According to him, more than 10.8 million drought-resistant seedlings and 869,089 date palm seedlings had been distributed to farmers to promote agroforestry, improve food production and increase rural incomes.

He added that the agency had expanded access to clean energy through the distribution of solar home systems, solar street lights, fuel-efficient cookstoves and solar-powered irrigation pumps.

He said more than 210,000 Nigerians, particularly women and youths, had participated in restoration activities, while over 1,300 forest guards had been trained to support environmental protection.

Earlier, the director-general of NAGGW, Saleh Abubakar, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to restoring degraded landscapes and combating desertification across the country.

Mr Abubakar highlighted the agency’s achievements, including the production of more than 48 million tree seedlings, restoration of degraded lands, promotion of agroforestry and provision of renewable energy facilities to rural communities.

He thanked the federal government, the Kano State government, development partners and other stakeholders for their support, assuring that the agency would continue to work towards building a greener and more climate-resilient environment.

Also speaking, the Kano State commissioner for water resources, environment and climate change, Dahiru Hashim, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to environmental restoration and climate action.

Mr Hashim said the relocation of the NAGGW headquarters to Kano would strengthen efforts to combat desertification, restore degraded lands and enhance community resilience.

He said the state had planted millions of trees and restored more than 50,000 hectares of degraded land through various environmental programmes.

The commissioner assured the federal government and development partners of Kano State’s readiness to support the successful implementation of the SURAGGWA Project.

In his remarks, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Hussein Gadain, pledged the organisation’s continued support for Nigeria’s efforts to combat land degradation, restore ecosystems and strengthen climate resilience through the SURAGGWA Project.

Mr Gadain said desertification and climate change continued to undermine agricultural productivity and livelihoods, particularly in Northern Nigeria, adding that the Great Green Wall Initiative remained critical to addressing the challenges.

He said the SURAGGWA project, funded by the Green Climate Fund and implemented by the FAO in collaboration with partners, would promote landscape restoration, biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation and improved livelihoods.

According to him, the steering committee will provide strategic direction, strengthen coordination and ensure effective implementation of the project.

The event featured the symbolic launch of the 2026 tree-planting exercise and the inauguration of members of the SURAGGWA national steering committee, drawn from the 11 frontline states.

(NAN)