Senate urges Nigeria to adopt multi-stakeholder approach on desertification

The Senate says there is need for Nigeria to adopt a multi-stakeholder approach with support from the United Nations, to collectively combat the menace of desertification.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege stated this at the commemoration of the 2022 World Desertification and Drought Day in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

He said that desertification has been a perennial problem in Northern Nigeria and the rest of the Sahel region, with increased drought due to climate change taking over a huge portion of farmlands.

“This and drought have clearly threatened livelihoods in vulnerable communities due to land degradation and acute loss of rain-fed agriculture and biodiversity health,” Omo Agege explained.

He noted that desertification and drought have pulled Nigeria and other parts of Sub Saharan Africa to the threshold of ecological disasters.

“But, as the theme of this years’ event aptly says, “Rise up from drought together.” Already, the World Bank has led the way in this noble concert. We can recall that in mid-December last year, the global Bank approved a $700 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) for Nigeria towards addressing part of the desertification problem,” he stated.

Senator Omo-Agege also commended the efforts of the Nigerian government, critical stakeholders, environment campaigners and activists who have been raising awareness to combat desertification and drought in Northern parts of Nigeria.

The Minister of Environment, Mr Muhammed Abdullahi, also called on all stakeholders to treat land as a limited and precious natural capital, prioritise its health and to restore degraded land resources.

Abdullahi said; “Everyone has a role to play because everyone has a stake in land use and management. Let us not forget that a growing human population and roaring consumption are putting unsustainable pressures on the natural resources we depend on for survival.

“Our misuse and abuse of land and water is changing fertile land into deserts.”

The Minister also appealed to development partners to fulfill various pledges made towards sustainable environment development.

Abdullahi further stated that Nigeria has committed to other global and regional goals such as the Bonn Challenge and Land Degradation Neutrality, LDN, and dedicated to fulfill its pledge to the African Forest Restoration Initiative, to restore 100 million Hectares of degraded landscape by 2030.

He stressed that over 550,408 Hectares of land restoration have been recorded so far.

The Minister explained that; “As part of the efforts towards addressing the menace of drought, Nigeria has developed a national Action Plan for management of droughts. Proactively, a five-year strategic plan that will engender coordinated efforts of building resilience against Climate change, desertification and other climate-driven environment challenges have been developed with key components such as awareness creation and strategic partnership between government, communities, and development Partners.

“The National Strategic Action Plan is a key plank of the Implementation Strategy of the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI). This Plan was developed in line with the Harmonised Regional Strategy of the GGW Convention.”

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Mr Hassan Musa said that “Nigeria is towing the part of global agenda in raising awareness on issues facing the environment.”

Musa said that the government was committed to fulfilling its pledge to combat desertification, drought, land degradation and remained on track in the restoration agenda to achieve land degradation neutrality, LDN by 2030.

He said; “This has been demonstrated through our strong policies, Strategies, action plan and full commitment to international programmes such as the AFR100, Agro-climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Land Scape, ACRESAL, and Sand and Dust Storms, SDS.”

Musa also explained that Desertification and Drought Management would play a crucial role in strengthening the resilience of rural communities against climate shocks by securing and improving the provision of vital ecosystem service, which addresses issues such as food security, income equality, poverty, and resource availability.

According to him, “Desertification and Drought management are directly linked to improved quality of life, socio-economic progress. environment protection and sustainable use of natural resources, thus, managing the menace creates multiple benefits and will make a direct contribution to achieving all our commitments and that of the SDGs.”

The Director General, National Environmental Standards Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, Professor Aliyu Jauro said that the Agency would continue to collaborate with the Ministry Department of Desertification, land degradation and drought to actualise the implementation of the drought policy in the country.

Professor Jauro said; “NESREA has strive to actualise its mandate and vision for a cleaner and healthier environment for all Nigerians, protecting the environment from problems that degrade it. The Agency has collaborated with relevant MDAS in addressing various environment problems in the country.” 

He added that NESREA has developed about 34 National Environment regulations, amongst them is the National Environmental Desertification Control and Drought Mitigation regulation 2011, to combat the menace of desertification and mitigate drought in the country.

This year’s 2022 World Desertification and Drought Day, also witnessed the planting of trees by the Minister and stakeholders in the Environment sector.

The theme of this year’s 2022 “World Desertification and Drought Day is “Rise from drought together.”

 

 

Mercy C.