The Federal Government has called for stronger international cooperation, increased investment and concrete action to address land degradation, desertification and drought, stressing that the success of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) must ultimately be measured by tangible improvements in the lives and livelihoods of affected communities.
The Minister of Environment, Mallam. Balarabe Abbas Lawal, who represented the Government and people of Nigeria made the call while delivering Nigeria’s remarks at the Ministerial High-Level Opening Segment of the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD (COP17) with the theme: “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope” in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, 24th August 2026.
Speaking on the significance of the COP17 theme, “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope,” the Minister noted that the theme was particularly relevant to Nigeria and the African continent, where communities continue to face the far-reaching consequences of land degradation, desertification and drought.
According to the him, these challenges are not merely environmental concerns but have direct implications for food security, livelihoods, water resources, migration and national stability.
Abbas disclosed that approximately 50 percent of Nigeria’s land is affected by degradation with significant consequences for agriculture, pastoralism and rural communities. He further highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to achieving its Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets, while emphasising the need to translate the outcomes of COP17 into concrete national action.
The Minister called for stronger international cooperation and support in key areas including finance, water security, land restoration, sustainable food systems and soil health, stressing that developing countries require adequate resources and partnerships to effectively address the scale of the challenges.
He assured the COP Presidency, UNCCD Secretariat and Parties of Nigeria’s readiness to work collectively towards practical, inclusive and nationally responsive outcomes. Stating that
Nigeria’s participation at COP17 is further reinforced by the presence of the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Saleh Abubakar, MFR, and other members of the Nigerian delegation.
He further started that the NAGGW’s participation underscores Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and advancing practical interventions for land restoration, desertification control, drought resilience and sustainable livelihoods across the country’s Great Green Wall intervention areas.
The Minister stated that the Federal Government remains committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s participation in COP17 contributes to meaningful outcomes that support environmental sustainability, food security, community resilience and the long-term restoration of the country’s degraded landscapes.
Amina Ahmed Garba
Assistant Director Information and Public Relations
24th August 2026.
