FG Launches 50 Million Date Palm Project in Jigawa to Combat Desertification

By Kamal Yalwa August 2, 2025

The Federal Government has inaugurated a major environmental restoration initiative in Jigawa State with the launch of a project to plant 50 million date palm trees, aimed at combating desert encroachment and restoring degraded land in northern Nigeria.

The project was officially flagged off by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, in collaboration with the Deputy Governor of Jigawa State and the Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) during a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the agency.

Held under the theme “Sustaining the Momentum – Ten Years of NAGGW’s Contributions to Environmental Sustainability,” the event underscored the government’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development in the Sahel region.

The Minister described the initiative as a crucial intervention to address the growing threat of desertification, which continues to displace communities, degrade farmlands, and threaten food security in the North.

“This ambitious project will not only mitigate the harsh effects of climate change and desertification but will also enhance livelihoods, improve food security, and generate green jobs for thousands of Nigerians,” Lawal stated.

According to the NAGGW, the date palm trees—well-suited to arid environments—will be planted across key frontline states affected by desert encroachment, with Jigawa serving as the starting point due to its critical ecological vulnerability.

The project is also expected to bolster economic activities in rural communities through the commercial value of date palm fruits, fostering both environmental and economic resilience.

Stakeholders present at the event praised the Federal Government’s continued investment in climate adaptation strategies, and reaffirmed support for the Great Green Wall programme—Nigeria’s contribution to the African Union’s vision of restoring 100 million hectares of land across the continent’s drylands by 2030.