Environment
NGO Urges FG To Implement Green Wall Programme
Africa Desertification Control Initiative, a Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO), on Tuesday advised the Federal Government to take a holistic approach to the implementation of the Great Green Wall Initiative.
The Executive Director of the NGO, Mr. Umar Dahiru, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Dahiru said that a holistic implementation of the initiative would ensure its success and sustainability.
He said the advice became necessary considering that about 21, 000 squares kilometers of land was affected by desertification yearly going by statistics from experts, describing the situation as “alarming’’.
The Great Green Wall Programme (GGWP) is a project developed by the African Union to address social, economic and environmental impact of land degradation and desertification in the Sahel and Sahara zones.
Dahiru said that the project would be implemented in 11 African countries and would cover about 7,775 kilometres in length, 15 kilometres in width over a total area of 11, 662,500 hectares.
The project is also expected to be implemented in 11 front line states in Nigeria. The states are Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Yobe.
“It is a gigantic project; my advice for the Federal Government is to give it a holistic approach because serious problems like desertification needs serious attention but I think the government is doing well in that respect.
“I learnt that the Federal Government had made provision to source and plant 10 million seedlings this year for their own part of Great Green Wall Initiative component, which I think is a good development.
“All the same, I think the National Assembly is making effort to establish a commission to combat desertification and erosion control, which is a very good initiative also.
“Desertification is a major environmental problem we are having in this country apart from other environmental issues like erosion, oil spillage and other things.“
Dahiru said that the security challenges in the northern parts of the country should not be allowed to affect the implementation of the Great Green Wall Initiative in the 11 front line states.
The environmentalist also urged the federal government to ensure that it implemented all environmental policies aimed at mitigating the impact of desertification in the country.
He commended the government for designing “good environmental policies“ but expressed concern at “the lack of political will to implement them”.
“They (Federal Government) should take these issues very serious because when the land is degraded due to erosion, oil spillage, desertification and all forms of land degradation, the resulting effect is that it will affect the livelihood of the people.
“It will render people jobless, and if people don’t have something to do, you know the consequences – there will be social, economic, and security threat to the country.
“The government should always give it the required attention that it deserves; the policies that we have on paper should be fully implemented.
“Also, the people that are capable of doing the job should be placed in the proper positions so that the job could be done effectively; so that we will achieve result at the end of the day.“
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a seven-day flood advisory, warning of a medium flood risk in 17 states between July 21 and July 27.
The agency said the alert followed rising water levels at key river monitoring stations, increasing the likelihood of localised flooding along river channels and floodplains.
NIHSA Director-General, Umar Mohammed, disclosed this in National Flood Advisory (Alert No. NFA-2026-200) issued on Tuesday.
He said the affected states are Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
According to Mohammed, river levels at Saminara on the Karam River, Waya Dam Site on the Waya River and Amber on the Amber River had exceeded watch and warning thresholds.
He said 16 gauging stations nationwide were recording elevated river stages, placing nearby communities at risk of localised flooding.
Mohammed urged state governments, local authorities and residents of flood-prone communities to take precautionary measures immediately.
NIHSA said Bauchi had the highest exposure, with 1,841 communities, 145 schools, 101 health facilities and eight markets identified as vulnerable.
The agency also identified vulnerable communities and public facilities in Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Plateau and Benue states.
Mohammed urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), local governments and community leaders to activate emergency response plans.
He recommended relocating residents, livestock and valuables from floodplains to safer locations
He also advised emergency agencies to pre-position food, medical supplies and water treatment materials in areas likely to be affected.
“The NIHSA boss called for community mobilisation through early warning volunteers and local communication channels to ensure timely dissemination of flood alerts.
He cautioned residents against walking, driving or riding through flooded roads, bridges and fast-flowing waterway.
A cleaner environment begins with collective responsibility. That commitment was evident across Umuahia on Saturday as thousands of residents turned out to participate in the July monthly environmental sanitation exercise, with officials describing the compliance level as one of the most encouraging in recent months.
The impressive turnout has renewed hope that Abia’s campaign for a cleaner and healthier environment is steadily becoming a culture rather than a routine exercise.
The July monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Umuahia recorded about 80% compliance.
The Abia State Ministry of Environment described the turnout as a strong indication that residents are embracing Governor Alex Otti’s vision for a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable environment, while calling for the establishment of Neighbourhood Environmental Watch groups to sustain the momentum.
The Abia State Government has commended residents of Umuahia for their impressive participation in the July monthly environmental sanitation exercise, describing the turnout as a strong indication that citizens are embracing the state’s campaign for a cleaner and healthier environment.
Speaking after monitoring the exercise across major parts of the Umuahia metropolis, the Permanent Secretary, Abia State Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ikechukwu Oriuwa, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance and urged residents to sustain the momentum.
According to him, the success recorded during the exercise reflects growing public support for the environmental agenda of the Labour Party-led administration.
“I think, so far, so good. At this point, what we need to do is sustain the momentum. We should move forward with establishing a Neighbourhood Environmental Watch so that residents can monitor compliance and ensure the initiative is sustained,” he said.
Mr. Oriuwa further applauded both residents and the organisers for the success of the exercise.
“Well, I must say I am very impressed. I appreciate the organisers for putting this programme together. It has been highly impressive, and I believe participants have learnt a great deal. From what I have observed so far, everything has been well organised, and I think they are doing an excellent job. I encourage them to keep up the good work because programmes like this are beneficial to everyone,” he added.
The Permanent Secretary stressed that environmental sanitation should become a daily culture rather than an activity observed only on designated sanitation days.
Drawing from an Igbo proverb, he explained why communities must collectively protect their environment.
“An Igbo proverb says that a goat owned by the public often goes hungry. That is why establishing a Neighbourhood Environmental Watch is important. It will encourage residents to take collective responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean and ensuring that sanitation efforts are sustained.”
He also urged government agencies to strengthen enforcement by deploying environmental health officers to carry out routine inspections and ensure compliance with sanitation laws.
