NCF Hails FG On N10bn Green Wall Project

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has commended the Federal Government for releasing N10 billion for the implementation of the Great Green Wall Project.

The Minister of the Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Mailafia, had at the recent National conference on Environment in Makurdi, Benue State, said  the Federal Government had made a commitment of N10 billion towards the implementation of the United Nations backed programme.

The great green wall brings together 11 countries to plant trees across Africa to literally hold back the Sahara desert with a swathe of greenery, and lessen the effects of desertification and improve the lives and livelihoods of communities.

The project in Nigeria aims to address desertification, enhance natural resource management and promote ecosystem integrity in the dry land in the northern parts of the country.

The Nigerian project stretches from Zamfara and Kebbi states in the North West region to a belt along the northern border of the country to the extreme eastern border in Borno State. Eight states are involved in the project.

While commending the Federal Government for the great effort made and its commitment towards the initiative, NCF also called for certain strategies to be employed before and during the implementation of the project to achieve maximum results. The strategies, according to the foundation, include a national institutional frame work  for project implementation, which should be very definitive and focused; follow up and action based on the principles and actions highlighted in the strategic plan.

NCF also said the project should be seen as an opportunity to boost natural resource productivity and reduce stress, as well as tension in natural resource use among major stakeholders.

The foundation said a conflict mitigation and management strategy should be put in place by participating states to guide against actions that could punctuate or slow down the process of implementation in the participating states, as well as the inclusion of community in project planning and participation.