Abuja, June 6, 2026 – The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has intensified calls for widespread tree planting across Nigeria as part of efforts to address desertification, land degradation, and the growing threats posed by climate change.
The agency’s Director-General, Saleh Abubakar, made the appeal during activities commemorating the 2026 World Environment Day.
According to him, tree planting remains a critical component of ongoing environmental initiatives aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems and reducing the effects of climate change. He noted that trees play a vital role in reversing land degradation, curbing the spread of deserts, and protecting soil from erosion.
Abubakar described World Environment Day as a global platform that promotes environmental awareness and encourages collective action toward protecting natural resources.
He urged citizens to embrace sustainable environmental practices and contribute actively to preserving their communities through responsible stewardship of the environment.
The director-general reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to expanding tree-planting programmes, promoting agroforestry, and supporting communities in vulnerable regions to strengthen their capacity to withstand climate-related challenges.
He explained that environmental restoration goes beyond conservation, stressing that it also enhances food security, creates economic opportunities, and supports sustainable livelihoods.
Abubakar noted that restoration projects are being implemented across the agency’s 11 frontline states, including Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Yobe.
Reflecting on recent achievements, he said the agency launched a nationwide initiative in 2025 that facilitated the planting of 50 million date palm seedlings across the frontline states. The programme was designed to combat desertification, generate employment opportunities, and contribute to economic growth.
He added that fruit-bearing trees such as date palms help reclaim degraded land while providing additional income and nutritional benefits for local communities.
The initiative, he said, complements broader efforts to increase the planting of indigenous tree species and safeguard the country’s biodiversity.
Abubakar further highlighted the environmental benefits of trees, noting that they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, thereby helping to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations and limit the impact of climate change.
He emphasised that expanding tree cover remains essential for states facing increasing dryland degradation and the advancing threat of the Sahara Desert.