By Abigael Joshua
The Federal Government has assured support to the ideals of the Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI) to address climate change challenges.
Dr Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Environment, said this at the inauguration of the 9th Session of the Pan-African Agency for the Great Green Wall (PAGGW), Technical Experts meeting, on Thursday in Abuja.
He said: “Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu remains fully committed to the ideals of the great green wall and of using nature based solutions to address the challenges of climate change.
“This gathering marks a pivotal moment in our collective pursuit of knowledge, innovation, and progress in our efforts to arrest desertification, land degradation and ultimately increase the quantity of arable land in the Sahel and Sahara regions of Africa.
“This meeting is a testament to our commitment to fostering an environment where ideas can flourish, and knowledge can be shared without boundaries”.
According to Salako, the support from Nigerians to hold the meeting has no doubt helped in moving the country closer to achieving the goals and objectives of the GGW for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative.
“In the realm of technology and expertise, we find ourselves at the crossroads of higher possibilities and greater responsibilities. Our world is evolving at an unprecedented pace with the major crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution threatening man’s continuous existence on planet earth.
“It is through forums such as this that we can harness the power of collaboration to navigate these challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead.
“As we embark on the deliberations of this 9th session, let us keep in mind the profound impact that our decisions and innovations can have on our different countries, on Africa as a continent and the world in general,” the minister said.
Earlier, Dr Yusuf Maina-Bukar, Director-General, National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), commended the stakeholders for their commitments to the implementation of the Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI).
He said the commitment towards addressing the impact of emerging climate change risks within and near the Great Green Wall corridor implies that efforts must be geared towards effective implementation of the GGWI at regional and national levels.
These commitments, he said propelled by the Convention of the Pan-African Agency of the Great Green Wall (PAGGW) made it statutory for this gathering.
He also commended the stakeholders for commitments to the implementation GGWI in the country.
On her part, Ms Louisa Baker, representative of the United Nations Convention to combat desertification (UNNCD), assured of the agency’s support to combat desertification in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that the 9th ordinary session of the council of ministers is preparatory to the 5th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali
