The National Agency for the Great Green Wall has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability in the country.
Sen. Magnus Abe, NAGGW Council Chairman, said this at the 3rd National Council of the agency/induction and familiarisation meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja.
The event has as theme “Green Leadership, Good Governance aligning with the Renewed Hope of President Bola Tinubu”.
Abe noted that communities in the country face numerous issues that require collective attention.
According to him, from infrastructure development, social welfare and environmental sustainability, we have a responsibility to ensure that our decisions benefit all and sundry.
He said that the NAGGW initiative was not just another government programme but a vision of survival, resilience, and hope for citizens whose lives and livelihoods were daily threatened by the advance of desertification, land degradation, drought, and the effects of climate change.
He assured that the agency would address the challenges from the Niger Delta, a region historically plagued by environmental degradation.
“I understand how environmental injustice and non-protection can breed poverty, anger, and instability. I have seen how oil spills, gas flaring, and ecological damage have shaped the realities of people.
“The Niger Delta taught me that when people feel excluded from the benefits of natural resources, they resist. But when they are empowered as custodians of their environment, they thrive. This philosophy will guide my stewardship of the Great Green Wall.
“For those who live in the Sahel regions of Northern Nigeria, desertification is not an abstract concept; it is a reality that manifests as shrinking farmlands, drying water sources, forced migration, and displacement.
“But beyond the frontline states, the implications reverberate across our nation. When water disappears, health and livelihoods are at risk.
”Therefore, the work of this agency is not just about planting trees; it is about planting hope, restoring dignity, reducing poverty, and building peace.
In his remarks, Saleh Abubakar, Director-General, NAGGW, said that “green leadership is not just about planting trees but about planting hope. It is about leading with empathy, foresight and a commitment to sustainability.
“We are gathered at a time when the world faces unprecedented environmental challenges, when climate change continues to fuel extreme droughts, floods, and wildfires across continents.
“It also reminds us that leadership is not about titles but about responsibility. A new kind of leadership that is visionary, inclusive, and accountable.
”Good governance is not only about rules alone, but choices that deliver real impact,” he said.
The director general, who is also the NAGGW Council Secretary, noted that good governance was the backbone of a lasting impact and demanded transparency, integrity, and collaboration.
“Let us therefore build a system that is equitable, efficient, and accountable. Together, we will uphold a high standard of accountability and public trust.
“The Great Green Wall began as a vision of the African Union to create a mosaic of green and productive landscapes stretching across the Sahel.
“Nigeria as a signatory established a Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) within the Federal Ministry of Environment to coordinate national activities.
“Over time, as the scale and urgency of land degradation grew, it became clear that a more robust and autonomous institution was needed,” he added.
Abubakar said that the development led to the enactment of an enabling law and the establishment of the NAGGW with the statutory responsibility to coordinate, implement, and monitor the Great Green Wall programme in Nigeria.
He said that the agency also inaugurated 50 million date palm plantations across the frontline states, describing it as a landmark initiative that combined ecological restoration with food security, economic empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods.
Similarly, Mr Sylvester Okonofua, an environmental consultant, in his presentation on the overview of the NAGGW Establishment Act, called for the safety of field staff as well as the provision of hazard allowances. (