Written by The Federal Government on Monday launched a one-million tree-planting campaign at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna, targeting the twin threats of advancing desertification in the north and worsening deforestation across the country’s southern belt.
The initiative is a three-way partnership between the Africa Finance Corporation, the NDA and event management group Fifth Chukker, anchored at the NDA’s Biodiversity Conservation Centre.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Environment Mr. Abubakar Buba represented Minister of Environment Mr. Balarabe Lawal at the launch.
Mr. Buba described the ecological situation in Kaduna plainly.
“To our North, desertification continues its relentless march, while to our South, deforestation has steadily eroded forest cover that once moderated rainfall patterns and protected vital watersheds,” he said.
The commissioner confirmed that Kaduna State had previously supplied 10,000 seedlings to the NDA, all of which had been planted and were reported to be thriving.
AFC President and CEO Mr. Ismail Zubairu said the corporation had committed to planting two additional trees for every one sponsored by its staff.
He said the project would extend beyond tree planting to cover conservation research, environmental education, green job creation and the establishment of a nursery and seed bank for threatened plant species.
NDA Commandant Major-General Olatoye framed environmental degradation as a national security concern.
“A nation cannot be secure if its land is barren, its water is scarce, and its air is compromised,” he said.
The NDA established its Biodiversity Conservation Centre two years ago to conserve indigenous flora and fauna and support ecological research.
The campaign connects to Nigeria’s obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement.
Mr. Buba said the one million trees would sequester measurable quantities of carbon dioxide while building ecosystem resilience through natural, mixed-species planting rather than a single-crop plantation model.
