The Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako assured Nigerians that government will provide all the necessary support to combat Sand and Dust Storm (SDS) in the country.
Dr. Salako said this during the commemoration of 2024 World Internation Day for Combating SDS recently in Abuja.
The Minister pointed out that SDS led to the removal of fertile top soil which results to loss of farm land and crops thereby threatening food production, devastation of the economy, human health and society at large.
The Minister disclosed some of the he government efforts towards combating SDS such as; the establishment of the National Agency for Great Green Wall (NGGW), Agro- Climatatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), Presidential Initiative on Climate change and creation of 24 forest greening communities covering 240 hectares of land in 24 Local Government Areas in the county.
He also assured Nigerians that The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT), Green Heroes Project will be implemented using youths and retirees.
Salako reiterated the government’s plan to collaborate with UN Convention to combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) to share knowledge , technologies and resources to mitigate the impacts of SDS.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary Mahmud Adam Kambari who was respresented by Mrs Mabel Emmanuel, Director, Desertification, Land Degredation and Drought department in the Ministry stated that Nigeria finds itself in closed proximity to the Sahara, where the North Eastern winds carries the dust all the way to Atlantic Ocean.
She further explained that the UN has taken this global threat very serious, in recognition of that, the UNGA passed a resolution to declare every 12th of July as International Day of combating SDS, to raise global awareness, this is the maiden edition of the event in the country.
Emmanuel called on all participants to disseminate information on the dangers of SDS to every nook and cranny of the Country.
Ibrahim Haruna
Head, Press and Public Relation Unit.
