In his opening speech on the inaugural Great Green Wall (GGW) Day celebration, today, Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change, noting that with extreme temperatures, drying rivers, endangered wildlife, and thinning forests, humanity faces the unsettling deterioration of climate-induced migration.
The Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI) was launched in 2007 to combat desertification and initiate restoration of degraded lands across the affect regions in Africa. The Vice President highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to this Pan-African mission, which led to the establishment of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) in 2015.
Addressing the distinguished guests at the State House, Vice President Shettima also appealed to all stakeholders to recognize the Great Green Wall as “an emergency rescue operation.” The mission, inherited from our predecessors, is a life-saving endeavour that cannot be relegated, he said, and “It is a promise made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure our collective existence.”
The inaugural Great Green Wall Day not only showcases Nigeria’s commitment but also commemorates a significant resolution made at the Council of Ministers’ session. As the current President of the Pan-African Agency of the Great Green Wall (PAGGW), Nigeria bears the responsibility of leading the ten member states by example.
In his concluding remarks, Vice President Shettima called upon everyone present to invest in the realization of the transformative initiative. He commended the Federal Ministry of Environment and the National Agency for the Great Green Wall “as they embark on this noble pursuit of a world in the colour we desire.”
