By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse
As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate the World Desertification & Drought Day, (WDDD), the Jigawa state government said it is committed to working with relevant international agencies towards combating the menace of desertification and drought in the state.
The State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Nura Ibrahim Kazaure, who gave the assurance while presiding over the activities marking the 2025 World Desertification and Drought Day in Dutse on Tuesday, described Jigawa as one of the frontlines of the federation that have climate vulnerability associated with desert encroachment and drought which manifest in the drastic reduction of agricultural yields, resulting in poverty and food insecurity.
The occasion with the theme, ‘Restore the land: Unlock the Opportunities” was put together by ministry, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF) and the Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes, (AcReSAL) project a World Bank Assisted Programme
Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Abdullahi Namadi, the commissioner described desertification and drought as social, economic and moral challenges that test “our collective resilience and resolve to protect our legacy.”
Kazaure noted that, setting aside June 17 of every year as a world desertification and drought day by the UN was a wake up call for global consciousness and action in the face of land degradation, which threaten the health, food, water and security and social stability of mankind.
He described the theme of this year’s commemoration as apt, and urged people to rethink their relationship with nature and recommit themselves to sustainable development .
He explained that the ministry has made land restoration a priority, by working to restore degraded land and promote sustainable landscape management, citing some key interventions, which includes large-scale afforestation and reforestation programme with about 5.5 million assorted trees planted last year in al the 27 LGAs
He noted that similar number is being nurtured in the 27 LGAs in the state this year, noting, however, the that unlike the previous year, the focus was now shifting to drought resistant economic and indigenous trees, not only to restore the ecosystem but also provide means of livelihood to the people of the state.
He added that economic tress are also provided for orchard development in schools and other institution as a component of institutional tree planting intervention
According to him in restoration and intervention of land including the sand dunes stabilization at Jahun Kiyawa, Miga, among others gully erosion control in Kargo down to Danmasara in Dutse local government, which the state government in collaboration with UNICEF and other donour agencies, is spending over N200 Billion to address through ACReSAL.
The ACReSAL State Coordinator Muhammad Yahaya Uba said the project was aimed at controlling these effects through the restoration of degraded land and create new opportunity to improve the livelihood of the people in the state .
The project was design to checkmate all the menace of land degradation with it’s projects development objectives .
Also making his contribution the Managing Director of Jigawa State Environmental Protection Agency, (JISEPA) Alhaji Adamu Sabo said, the current administration through ministry of environment and climate change has made land restoration a priority, working to restore degraded land and promote sustainable landscape management.
He explained that, JISEPA in collaboration with other partners UNICEF inclusive embarked on public enlightenment and awareness creation campaign more especially on plastic waste management and other land restoration measures.
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