The GGW project which was sold to the African Union by former President Olusegun Obasanjo had witnessed series of launch in the country by past ministers of environment setting the pace for the president to officially launch the Nigeria component of the programme which seeks to assist participating countries in overcoming the threats of desertification.
Speaking on the launch, Minister of Environment, Mrs Laurentia Mallam, said the project entails planting of 15 kilometre wide and 1,500 kilometre long of economic trees stretching from Kebbi State to Borno.
She listed other states to benefit from the project which the federal government had already released N16 billion are Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe,Bauchi, Gombe, Katsina and Adamawa.
Mallam said that programme also aim to discourage the huge deforestation witnessed in northern Nigeria. “The programme is also aimed at encouraging the use of alternative sources of energy other than firewood, discouraging indiscriminate felling of trees, encouraging tree planting, sinking of boreholes to generate water to sustain the orchards, gardens and plantations.”
The minister said the project would benefit affected communities by providing shelter cover and create ozone friendly environment, creation of over 5,000 jobs, creation of modern grazing areas, and bring about a great reduction in migration of cattle rearers and serve as a wind breaker to reduce the negative effects of heavy breeze that ravage communities in the affected states.
She called on Nigerians within the participating states to key into the project as it would alleviate their poverty. “ It is important for the communities to know that whatever is planted on their land belong to them, they should care for it and maintain it as they will not lose a grain of soil as a result of the GGW.” she said.
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