The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, reassured the Nigerian populace that the government is fully committed to providing the necessary support in combating Sand and Dust Storms (SDS) within the country.
Dr. Salako made these remarks during the commemoration of the 2024 World International Day for Combating SDS held recently in Abuja.
The Minister emphasized that SDS leads to the erosion of fertile topsoil, resulting in the loss of farmland and crops, thereby posing a threat to food production, economic stability, human health, and society as a whole.
He highlighted some of the government’s initiatives in combating SDS, including the establishment of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NGGW), the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) program, the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, and the creation of 24 forest greening communities covering 240 hectares of land across 24 Local Government Areas in the country.
Furthermore, Dr. Salako assured Nigerians of the implementation of The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) Green Heroes Project, which will actively involve youths and retirees in the environmental conservation efforts.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to collaborating with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to exchange knowledge, technologies, and resources aimed at mitigating the impacts of SDS.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Mahmud Adam Kambari, represented by Mrs. Mabel Emmanuel, Director of the Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought department in the Ministry, highlighted Nigeria’s geographical vulnerability to SDS due to its proximity to the Sahara Desert, from where the North Eastern winds carry dust particles all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.
She further elaborated on the global recognition of this environmental threat by the United Nations, which led to the passing of a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declaring the 12th of July as the International Day of Combating SDS to raise global awareness. This marks the inaugural celebration of the event in the country.
Emmanuel called upon all participants to disseminate information on the perils of SDS to every corner of the nation.
