Nigeria seeks proactive drought management at COP17

Nigeria has joined other African nations in advocating for a legally binding agreement on proactive drought management, increased adaptation funding, and clear accountability at COP17, the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD in Mongolia. Minister of Environment Balarabe Lawal emphasized Nigeria's dedication to achieving land degradation neutrality during the conference's high-level ministerial opening.

Lawal stated that Nigeria is prepared to convert COP17 outcomes into tangible actions, emphasizing the need for enhanced international collaboration and financial support in areas such as water security, land restoration, food systems, and soil health. He highlighted that approximately 50% of Nigeria's land is affected by degradation, leading to severe consequences for agriculture, pastoralism, and rural communities.

Lawal called for a greater focus on proactive drought management through early warning systems, national drought plans, anticipatory action, and improved water security. He urged Nigeria and other countries to shift from reacting to drought after it occurs to anticipating and preparing for its impacts. COP17 must be a COP of implementation, transforming commitments into execution and ambition into measurable results benefiting the population, Lawal added.

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Saleh Abubakar, welcomed the conference as an opportunity for Nigeria to share its experiences and learn from countries that have successfully restored land and built drought resilience. Abubakar expressed Nigeria's intention to leverage the platform to demonstrate its scientific expertise and indigenous practices, forge research and technology partnerships, and strengthen cooperation between government, universities, and communities.

He pledged to seek technical assistance and investment to bolster drought preparedness and early warning systems. NAGGW will continue collaborating with local and international partners to combat desertification and land degradation across Nigeria's 11 frontline states, enhance food security, and mitigate conflicts between farmers and herders.