The United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure the sustainability of the Great Green Wall (GGW) which she described as an “economic corridor.”
Mohammed, who paid a courtesy call to the Minister of Environment, Barr Mohammed Abdullahi, in Abuja on Monday, said the GGW project is an economic corridor which will empower both youth and women if properly developed and sustained.
The UN deputy secretary general, who was responding to a request for assistance by the minister, assured the country of the organisation’s support in ensuring that environmental programmes are implemented.
She said, “So, it’s really important that we put in place the teams that will help us look at those programmes and see that the GGW issue is properly addressed.
“The GGW project will really empower our people, but at the same time, it is able to give less reason for people to destabilise countries when they get involved in conflicts of different types.
“So again, we are at your disposal; the UN will support any efforts that you want with the GGW.”
The minister had earlier called on the UN to assist in implementing the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Ogoniland and the Great Green Wall in 11 northern states.
The minister said the ministry is committed to implementing the two major projects but said the UN’s support would boost the ministry’s efforts.
He said, “There are two important projects for which we will need more of your support: HYPREP and GGW. We are doing our best to ensure that it’s working greatly.
“We have the team for the HYPREP. We are doing our best to make sure that the structure put in place is maintained to ensure checks and balances for good governance and transparency.
“This is what we are doing, and we hope we will get robust support from you.”
