Stakeholders Hail Water Irrigation Technology, Climate Smart Agriculture, Other Achievements of NAGGW Boss

A group of Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, on Tuesday, applauded the efforts of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, NAGGW, in tackling multifarious environmental challenges affecting the country.

They gave their separate commendations at an event to mark the one-year anniversary of Dr. Yusuf Maina-Bukar‘s assumption of office as the Director General (DG) and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, NAGGW.

Speaking at the NAGGW Building in Abuja, they unanimously applauded the transformation agenda of the NAGGW helmsman, which has assisted the Agency to implement its activities and programmes, aimed at tackling climate change, land degradation, and desertification, among others, in the 11 frontline states of Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Bauchi, Gombe and Adamawa.

In his speech earlier, Dr. Maina-Bukar, noted that in the last one year, the NAGGW management led by him has worked to provide the required leadership, dedication, and commitment in advancing the mandate of the Agency.

He said, “We have therefore focused on implementing afforestation and reforestation activities, land restoration, and sustainable land management practices and have made notable achievements that demonstrate a positive impact on the environment and the livelihoods of communities in the affected areas”.

The DG also said that the management team introduced techniques, strategies and approaches to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Great Green Wall afforestation and reforestation programmes such as Half Moon and Zai methods of planting; that enhances seedling and tree survival rate, improve soil retention capacity, improve soil fertility and increases vegetation cover.

“Accordingly, Ministerial approval has been obtained by the Agency for use of the waterboxx water retention technology for irrigation that enhances seedling and tree survival rate by ninety percent during dry season and reduces the carbon footprints released in the environment.

He stated that within the year under review, the Great Green Wall programme has been able to provide numerous job opportunities for young people and women in rural communities, by training then in sustainable land management techniques, supporting them to establish tree nurseries, forest plantations and other skills to improve their economic conditions.

He further explained that approval has been obtained by the Governing Council to establish the Great Green Wall Day (GGW Day) which will be held this year on July 13th 2023 as an effective means of enlightening, sensitizing and mobilizing the public on the Agency’s mandate.

The DG said “In a bid to reposition the Agency for effective service delivery, we introduced various reforms and initiatives such as establishing the Security Services Unit to coordinate security support services and reduce operational risks faced by staff of the Agency in the security prone areas of the frontline states.

“To date, the Agency has trained more than 1,367 rural community people among the women and youth in various livelihood activities. We have also trained about 275 farmers on climate smart agriculture techniques and skills required during dry season farming. Over the course of the year, we will continue to support various local and international trainings of personnel to improve capacity and productivity within the Agency.

Dr. Maina-Bukar commended the Nigeria President’s commitment and support to the Great Green Wall Initiative; the Agency sought for and obtained Presidential approval to clear Nigeria’s outstanding contributions to the convention of the Pan African Agency of the Great Green Wall (PAGGW) from 2018 to date to the tune of USD 654,291.00. Also approved was a pledged sum of USD 550,000.00 as Nigeria’s voluntary contribution towards the construction of the Pan African Agency for the Great Green Wall (PAGGW) Headquarters in Nouakchott, Mauritania and purchase of three vehicles for the use of the PAGGW Secretariat in Nouakchott, Mauritania”.

Mrs. Sule Pauline
Head ( I&CCU)
NAGGW