FG committed to achieving land degradation neutrality

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, has said the Federal Government has put adequate measures in place towards achieving land degradation neutrality in the country through the establishment of the Great Green Wall (GGW) agency and the Drought and Desertification Department (DDA).

Odusote stated this, yesterday, when the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Nigeria, Mr. Melih Ulueren, paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja to discuss measures of combating the menace of desertification ahead of the global annual celebration of the World Day to Combat Desertification.

“Government is aware that by scaling up sustainable land management and accelerating restoration initiatives, it can readily attain a greater resilience and security for all,” she said.

She said Nigeria will continue to strengthen existing bilateral relationship with the government of the Republic of Turkey so that both countries can grow their future together especially as it relates to healthy environment.

Earlier, the Ambassador, Mr. Ulueren, said the aim of his visit was to extend his country’s invitation to the ministry to participate in the 2019 World Day to Combat Desertification and the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) holding in Ankara, Turkey later this month.

The ambassador said it has become imperative for nations to come together to proffer solutions to combat desertification, noting that the world was rapidly losing the soil necessary for human existence.