FAO commends Nigeria Govt for addressing desertification, pledges more support

Hon. Dr. Abubakar (right) with Mr. Kafeero taking a photo soon after their discussion

11/06/2021

Abuja -The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has commended the efforts by the Federal Government of Nigeria in combatting desertification in country.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday June 10 during a courtesy call to the Federal Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, the FAO Representative in Nigeria and to the Economic Community of the West African States (ECOWAS), Fred Kafeero, applauded the country’s determination to confront head-on, this challenge.

“The efforts taken to address desertification especially around the northern region of the country through an integrated, multisectoral and inter- ministerial approach, are a right step forward,” he said.

Mr. Kafeero gave FAO’s full support for the project on Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) designed to increase the adoption of climate-resilient landscapes management practices in key watersheds in northern Nigeria.

“FAO has considerable policy and field level expertise to support the Ministry in the implementation of the project. We would like to work with your Ministry to bring this wealth of expertise in the new project,” he told Hon. Dr. Abubakar.

Since 2017, FAO has partnered with the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) in implementing the Action Against Desertification (AAD) project funded by the European Union (EU) , an initiative of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States to support the implementation of the Great Green Wall (GGW) in Sahara and Sahel regions to combat desertification, promote sustainable land management and restore degraded land) in about 20 countries including Nigeria.

Last month the Federal Ministry of Environment had sent a letter requesting for FAO’s assistance in mobilizing financial resources to the tune of USD 10 million to support the country’s climate resilience and adaptation interventions.

“In responding to this request, we have mobilized internal Technical Cooperation Programme facility funds amounting to USD 63,000 to support a wide-consultative process that will lead to development of a fully-fledged project document for approval by the Adaptation Fund council in August this year,” Mr. Kafeero disclosed.

The FAO Representative also revealed that his organization was also leading other initiatives for addressing desertification and climate change mitigation including the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration Impact Program (FOLUR-IP) aiming at sustainable landscapes for cocoa and palm oil in Ondo and Cross River states; and the Global Transformation of Forests for People and Climate, among others.

On his side, Hon. Dr. Abubakar expressed appreciation to FAO’s support and pledged cooperation in the implementation of the initiatives in the country in order to realize the desired goals.

During this year’s International Forest Day celebrations, the Minister noted that the Government was determined to address deforestation and desertification issues in the country in order to ensure sustainable development.

“The unwavering commitment of the present administration is to checkmate the situation by rapidly increasing forest cover and doubling efforts at strategic and improved conservation and management of the nation’s natural resources for the attainment of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan as well as the Sustainable Development Goals,” Dr. Abubakar pointed out