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Kano 2026 tree planting exercise launched, group plants 2,000 trees in Kaduna – EnviroNews
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The Federal Government has launched the 2026 tree planting campaign and inaugurated the National Steering Committee of the Sustainable Agricultural Restoration and Growth for Green Wall Areas (SURAGGWA) in Kano.
The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, performed the inauguration on Thursday, July 9, during the commemoration of the 2026 Great Green Wall Day at the headquarters of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) in Kano.
Lawal said the initiative underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring degraded landscapes, combating desertification and building climate-resilient communities across the country.
He said environmental sustainability remained central to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that healthy ecosystems were essential for food security, economic growth and the well-being of Nigerians.
The minister commended the Kano State Government for hosting the event and supporting efforts to promote environmental protection and sustainable development.
According to him, this year’s theme, “The Green Shield: Restoring Landscapes to Silence the Sand and Dust Storms,” reflects the urgent need to tackle the increasing impact of sand and dust storms in Northern Nigeria and the wider Sahel region.
“The solution lies in restoring our degraded landscapes. The Great Green Wall Initiative was conceived as Africa’s flagship response to desertification and climate change,” he said.
He said Nigeria’s implementation of the initiative extended beyond tree planting to include land restoration, biodiversity conservation, livelihood improvement and enhanced food security across the 11 frontline states.
He listed the states to include Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.
He said the relocation of the NAGGW headquarters to Kano recognised the state’s strategic role in implementing the Great Green Wall Initiative.
He disclosed that the agency had raised more than 48 million indigenous and exotic tree seedlings since its establishment, supporting the development of shelterbelts, community woodlots, orchards, plantations and the restoration of degraded lands.
According to him, more than 10.8 million drought-resistant seedlings and 869,089 date palm seedlings had been distributed to farmers to promote agroforestry, improve food production and increase rural incomes.
He added that the agency had expanded access to clean energy through the distribution of solar home systems, solar street lights, fuel-efficient cookstoves and solar-powered irrigation pumps.
He said more than 210,000 Nigerians, particularly women and youths, had participated in restoration activities, while over 1,300 forest guards had been trained to support environmental protection.
Earlier, the Director-General of NAGGW, Alhaji Saleh Abubakar, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to restoring degraded landscapes and combating desertification across the country.
Abubakar highlighted the agency’s achievements, including the production of more than 48 million tree seedlings, restoration of degraded lands, promotion of agroforestry and provision of renewable energy facilities to rural communities.
He thanked the Federal Government, the Kano State Government, development partners and other stakeholders for their support, assuring that the agency would continue to work towards building a greener and more climate-resilient environment.
Also speaking, the Kano State Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Dr Dahiru Hashim, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to environmental restoration and climate action.
Hashim said the relocation of the NAGGW headquarters to Kano would strengthen efforts to combat desertification, restore degraded lands and enhance community resilience.
He said the state had planted millions of trees and restored more than 50,000 hectares of degraded land through various environmental programmes.
The commissioner assured the Federal Government and development partners of Kano State’s readiness to support the successful implementation of the SURAGGWA Project.
In his remarks, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Hussein Gadain, pledged the organisation’s continued support for Nigeria’s efforts to combat land degradation, restore ecosystems and strengthen climate resilience through the SURAGGWA Project.
Gadain said desertification and climate change continued to undermine agricultural productivity and livelihoods, particularly in Northern Nigeria, adding that the Great Green Wall Initiative remained critical to addressing the challenges.
He said the SURAGGWA Project, funded by the Green Climate Fund and implemented by FAO in collaboration with partners, would promote landscape restoration, biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation and improved livelihoods.
According to him, the steering committee will provide strategic direction, strengthen coordination and ensure effective implementation of the project.
The event featured the symbolic launch of the 2026 tree planting exercise and the inauguration of members of the SURAGGWA National Steering Committee drawn from the 11 frontline states.
In a related development, the Centre for Water and Environment Development (CWED), on Thursday planted no fewer than 2,000 tree seedlings in three communities in Sabon Gari Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.
The development is to promote environmental conservation and combat land degradation.
The initiative, tagged “CWED Green Project 2026: Plant a Tree, Protect the Future,” was carried out in Hayin Dogo, Hayin Danyaro and Bomo communities of Sabon Gari LGA.
The project sought to raise awareness on tree planting, promote environmental stewardship and encourage community participation in addressing climate change, deforestation and soil erosion.
Speaking at the event, CWED Programme Officer, Lydia Saleh, described the green project as an annual community-based environmental campaign.
Saleh said the initiative educated residents on the environmental, social and economic benefits of planting and protecting trees.
She said tree planting remained a practical strategy for reducing deforestation, mitigating climate change, preventing soil erosion and restoring degraded lands.
According to her, the beneficiary communities were already experiencing severe gully erosion that threatened homes and livelihoods.
She urged residents to nurture the planted trees and sustain environmental protection efforts beyond the day’s exercise.
Earlier, Dr Lemuel Musa, a member, Board of Trustees of CWED, said environmental conservation required collective responsibility from government, organisations and communities.
Musa urged residents to regard every tree planted as an investment in healthier ecosystems, improved livelihoods and a more sustainable future for coming generations.
He stressed that consistent tree planting and proper maintenance would help restore degraded landscapes and improve resilience against climate-related challenges.
The Kaduna State Ministry of Environment advised residents to protect trees as valuable natural assets capable of improving environmental and public health.
The ministry’s Divisional Forest Officer for Zaria and Sabon Gari LGA, Sadi Dahiru, said trees served as windbreaks, reduced erosion and provided clean air, fruits and medicinal benefits.
Dahiru encouraged schools to establish tree planting programmes to instill environmental consciousness and sustainable practices among children.
Also speaking, Aminu Salihu, Manager of Teku Farms, Unguwan Sarki branch, who trained participants on proper tree planting and maintenance techniques, said the project distributed 2,000 seedlings comprising 10 species.
Salihu said that apart from producing fruits, the selected tree species possessed medicinal value and contributed significantly to environmental restoration.
The Village Head of Hayin Dogo, Shehu Musa, commended CWED for selecting the communities for the project and pledged residents’ commitment to protecting the seedlings.
Musa said the campaign had increased awareness of environmental conservation and would help reduce erosion while improving the community’s landscape and livelihoods.
He assured the organisation that traditional leaders would mobilise residents to nurture the trees to ensure the project achieved its intended objectives.
By Muhammad Nur Tijani and Sani Idris Abdulrahman
