Gashua: The Emir of Bade, in Yobe, Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman, has announced a partnership with the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) to combat desertification and environmental degradation in Northern Nigeria. The royal father made this commitment during a visit from the Director-General of the agency, Saleh Abubakar, and his delegation at his Palace in Gashua. This visit was a segment of the agency’s ongoing advocacy tour across the 11 states most affected by desertification, aiming to bolster traditional and institutional partnerships for the effective implementation of the Great Green Wall initiative.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Great Green Wall project is a pan-African programme dedicated to restoring degraded lands, addressing climate change, and promoting sustainable livelihoods in arid and semi-arid regions. The Director-General praised the emir’s dedication to environmental sustainability and expressed optimism that the emirate’s involvement would expedite the execution of the agency’s work plan. He emphasized the importance of traditional institutions in mobilizing communities and ensuring the long-term success of environmental restoration efforts.
In his response, the emir highlighted the essential role of traditional rulers in promoting environmental awareness, mobilizing grassroots participation, and protecting restored ecosystems. He stated, “The restoration of our environment is a sacred duty. We are honored to collaborate with the NAGGW in this important national and continental mission.” Emir Suleiman reaffirmed the emirate’s commitment to supporting community-driven development and sustainable environmental practices.
Earlier, the NAGGW delegation visited the North-East Arid Zone Development Programme (NEAZDP) in Gashua, examining potential areas for partnership and collaboration in environmental restoration and rural development. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the delegation toured 40-hectare plantations, woodlots, shelterbelts, and fodder grass in Gajammo Community Nguru, as well as 2km shelterbelts at Government College Nguru and Government Girls’ Secondary School, Nguru. The Great Green Wall initiative, launched by the African Union, aims to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 and create millions of jobs in the Sahel region.