By Muhammad Amaan
The Federal Government said it has procured five million date palm seedlings for distribution across 11 frontline northern states to combat desertification and promote economic development in the region.
Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Mr Saleh Abubakar, made the disclosure on Monday during a courtesy visit to some traditional rulers in Yobe State, as part of the agency’s environmental sensitisation efforts.
He said the initiative was part of the agency’s mandate to fight land degradation and the impact of climate change.
The gesture, according to him, would significantly boost the nation’s economy and provide long-term environmental benefits.
According to him, we procured five million date seedlings for onward distribution in 11 frontline northern states to improve the economic activities of our region.
“Each date tree can produce fruits worth about N1 million annually. If a person cultivates 20 trees, he can potentially earn up to N20 million yearly.
“The tree produces twice a year and reaches maturity within four years. We are projecting that this initiative could inject over N300 billion into the economy when fully implemented,” he added.
Mr Abubakar emphasised the need for collective action towards restoring the degraded environment and urged communities to support tree planting and nurturing.
“We are here to mobilise people to understand the importance of planting and nurturing trees to restore balance in the environment and make it more habitable for both man and animal.
“We also intend to plant 350,000 assorted tree species in Yobe this planting season, which begins in July,” he said.
He noted that the effects of climate change were now being felt across the globe, citing a personal experience of extreme morning temperatures.
“This morning, the temperature in my room was 40 degrees Celsius. This is unprecedented and clearly shows how climate change is affecting us.
“We must act now. I urge everyone to plant at least one tree to help safeguard our environment,” the DG said.
The Great Green Wall initiative is a pan-African effort aimed at restoring Africa’s degraded landscapes and combating desertification across the Sahel region.
