The Federal Government is targeting the planting of 500,000 seedlings across Jigawa State during the 2026 rainy season as part of efforts to restore degraded land and strengthen communities against desertification and climate change.
Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, NAGGW, Alhaji Saleh Abubakar, disclosed this during an inspection of ongoing environmental restoration projects across the state.
He said the planting programme is part of an enrichment project covering more than 50 hectares, aimed at restoring degraded landscapes, reducing soil erosion and helping communities adapt to the growing impact of climate change.
Abubakar said NAGGW had already established plantations in several communities, with different tree and plant species selected according to local environmental conditions.
At Fari, the agency has planted 10 hectares of gum arabic and 20 hectares of woodlots, while another 10 hectares of cactus and gum arabic have been established at Yarda Kangiwa in Kaugama Local Government Area.
In Balangu, Kafin Hausa Local Government Area, the agency has established five hectares of woodlots, while about 10 kilometres of neem trees have been planted along the Kamataraye shelterbelt in Maigatari Local Government Area.
Abubakar stressed that the programme was not simply about putting trees in the ground, but about protecting the environment and improving the resilience of communities facing increasing environmental pressure.
“The goal goes beyond planting trees. It is about protecting the environment, supporting communities, and building a more sustainable future in the face of climate change.”
Also speaking, the Jigawa State Field Officer of NAGGW, Malam Kabiru Abubakar, linked changing rainfall patterns in parts of the state to environmental challenges, including deforestation.
He urged residents to take ownership of the trees and plantations established in their communities and protect the projects from destruction.
The National Agency for the Great Green Wall was established by the Federal Government in 2025 to combat land degradation, desertification and climate change across 11 frontline northern states.
The agency had earlier announced a five-year plan to plant 50 million date palm trees across the 11 states, beginning with an initial five million seedlings.
The Jigawa programme is expected to contribute to the broader national effort to restore degraded landscapes and create greener, more climate-resilient communities across Nigeria’s northern belt.
