43% Nigerian landmass threatened by desertification — DG

The Director-General, National Agency for the Great Green Wall, Ahmed Goni, has said that 43 per cent of Nigeria’s land mass is threatened by desertification.
Goni stated this at the first stakeholders’ meeting on the implementation of the Great Green Wall project organised by the Connected Development (CODE), an NGO.
He said the threatened areas include the 11 frontline states which the Great Green Wall covered.
“These areas are also where most of Nigeria’s beef products and other assorted grains come from,” he added.
He said the agency was working with various NGOs in the execution of the project to ensure transparency and accountability considering the role of civil society organisations in nation building.
“The Great Green Wall came as a result of the African Union which understands the dangers of desertification in the environment, which is the most serious environmental impact affecting Africa,” he added.
Hamzat Lawal, CODE chief executive said the project, which affects up to 200 communities in Nigeria, should be given priority attention by government.