Nigeria’s Efforts to Combat Desertification Yield Positive Results
Let’s talk about something that’s quietly reshaping the future of millions of Nigerians—Nigeria’s desertification combat efforts. Imagine fertile fields turning into parched expanses, families losing farmland inch by inch, and towns emptying as the Sahara’s edge creeps south. This isn’t a distant worry—it’s happening now. Roughly 35 percent of Nigeria’s landmass, nearly 351,000 km², is under threat from desertification, with about 350,000–400,000 hectares of cropland and savannah succumbing to degradation every year. That’s an area almost the size of Lagos State, lost annually to relentless sand and drought.
This creeping crisis isn’t just environmental—it’s deeply human. When soil turns to dust, crops fail, people migrate, and tensions rise. In fact, desert-related land scarcity has pushed farmers and herders into more frequent clashes, with conflicts in states like Plateau claiming thousands of lives since 2011. Beyond food and income, these changes threaten social stability and force families to make unbearably tough choices: stay and watch their land die, or leave everything behind.
And yet—there’s hope. Nigeria has undertaken a remarkable journey, launching powerful, science‑backed, community‑driven programs that are yielding real results. From planting millions of trees through the national Great Green Wall agency to building resilient irrigation systems and offering clean‑energy cooking solutions, these aren’t mere gestures. They’re life‑changing interventions.
In this feature, we’ll uncover Nigeria’s strategic response—its policies, institutions, groundbreaking programs like NAGGW, ACReSAL, NEWMAP, and the powerful synergy between tradition and technology. Most importantly, we’ll explore measured outcomes: tens of thousands of hectares restored, millions of seedlings thriving, thousands of jobs created, and communities strengthened.
This isn’t hype. It’s the story of lives rebuilt, land revived, and a nation weaving resilience into its fabric.
Describing the Challenge
Geographical Scope
The threat of desertification extends across the Sudano–Sahelian belt and northern regions of Nigeria, particularly in states like Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, and parts of Plateau. These areas experience relentless encroachment as the Sahara gradually advances south.
Drivers of Desertification
Rainfall in these regions has become irregular and erratic. In Yobe State, communities report as few as eight rainy days per year—barely enough to sustain vegetation. Additional cycles of drought intensify water stress, degrade soils, and strip away natural vegetation.
Deforestation is rampant: Nigeria has lost over 12 percent of its tree cover since 2000, driven largely by firewood collection, agricultural expansion, and charcoal demand. Over‑grazing has compounded this—livestock grew from 6 million in 1950 to 66 million by 2006, over‑exploiting fragile grasslands. Farmers often clear new land to meet food needs, pushing into drylands that struggle to recover. Bush burning and poor irrigation practices further accelerate soil erosion.
Socio‑Economic Consequences
Nigeria loses 350,000–400,000 hectares of cropland and forest annually—costing over $5 billion in economic value each year. In Northern states, shrinking farmland and drying wetlands severely reduce yields; one farmer saw his rice harvest shrink from a dozen bags to “hopefully” two in a single year.
As land degrades, herders and farmers migrate. In Yusufari, over 100 households left due to water scarcity, pushing herders deeper south. Farmer–herder clashes, particularly in Plateau State, have claimed thousands of lives; since 2011, more than 10,000 have died nationwide in such conflicts.
Desertification is eroding habitats—antelope, cheetah, giraffe, and lions are endangered or extinct in northern Nigeria. Wetlands like Hadejia‑Nguru shrank from 2,600 km² to 1,800 km² over two decades, reducing flood buffers, intensifying erosion, and upending local agriculture and fishing.
Heatwaves and dust storms are more common, directly impacting public health. Urban migration stresses infrastructure and fuels unrest. Competition over scarce land exacerbates banditry and communal violence, impeding development and weakening national security.
National Policy Framework & Institutional Setup
Key Legislation & Strategic Frameworks
Nigeria’s fight against desertification is anchored in national and global commitments. It has an active National Strategic Action Plan for 2021–25 focusing on ecosystem restoration, poverty reduction, and sustainable land practices. Nigeria is a signatory to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and aligns its policies with regional initiatives like AFR100, the Bonn Challenge, and the African Union’s Great Green Wall. In 2021, the country ratified REDD+ and pledged to halt deforestation by 2030, raising $19 billion toward this goal.
Institutions Established
In 2015, the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) was established under the Ministry of Environment to lead land restoration. Its departments handle everything from nursery production and shelterbelts to strategy, coordination, drought warnings, monitoring, and community engagement. Since 2022, the National Council on Climate Change has boosted federal-level coordination across ministries and agencies.
International Commitments & Cross‑Border Initiatives
NAGGW serves as Nigeria’s focal point for the African Union’s Great Green Wall initiative, collaborating with 11 Sahel countries to restore 100 million hectares, sequester 250 million tonnes of CO₂, and create 10 million green jobs by 2030. The effort is supported by funding through the Ecological Fund and partnerships with FAO, EU, UNCCD, World Bank, GEF, and IUCN.
Core Programs & Strategies – Turning Policy into Action
The Great Green Wall (NAGGW‑led)
Seedling production: over 45 million seedlings produced, including 3.85 million neem and 5 million date palms. Shelterbelts: planted along more than 1,300 km of northern Nigeria. Infrastructure: 430 solar boreholes, motorized pumps, nearly 5,000 solar home lighting units, over 1,900 solar streetlights, and 6,300 improved cookstoves installed. Community engagement: 71 nurseries, 5 off‑farm training centers. Over 1,397 youth serve as forest guards, with 85 motorcycles. Livelihoods: 210,709 youth and women employed in plantings; 205 grinding machines delivered; 275 farmers trained in climate‑smart practices; 1,367 in off‑farm livelihoods.
ACReSAL (Agro‑Climatic Resilience in Semi‑Arid Landscapes)
Launched in late 2021 with $700 million in funding, ACReSAL targets 1 million hectares by 2028 across 19 states plus FCT. By May 2025, approximately 178,235 hectares have been restored—nearly one‑fifth of the goal. It uses watershed planning, erosion control, dune stabilization, reservoirs, solar irrigation, and community funds. It also builds capacity through training farmers, establishing revolving funds, and supporting women, youth, and displaced populations.
NEWMAP & Erosion Control
The $500 million Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project rehabilitated dozens of gullies and built around 60 catchment systems across 23 states, benefiting over 12 million people. Solar drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and smart agriculture are part of its toolkit.
Fusion of Indigenous Wisdom & Modern Tech
Nigeria integrates traditional methods—zai pits, diguettes, contour planting—with satellite imagery, GIS mapping, drone surveys, weather stations, and field‑monitoring apps. This synergy nurtures soil, reduces erosion, and allows precise monitoring and rapid adaptation.
Integration of Traditional & Tech‑Based Approaches
Traditional land management techniques—zai pits, stone bunds, contour agriculture—bring cultural resonance and ecological effectiveness. These are amplified with tech: satellite GIS, drone monitoring, automatic weather stations, and mobile tracking apps. This blend boosts community trust, ensures strategy alignment, and helps steer resources to where they matter most.
Measurable Results & Outcomes
Land Restoration & Tree Planting: NAGGW targets rehabilitating 2.2 million hectares by 2030. It has delivered 45 million seedlings, planted shelterbelts, orchards, woodlots, farm forests, and fixed over 100 hectares of active dunes.
ACReSAL’s Achievements: Restored 160,000 hectares by early 2025; 178,235 hectares by May 2025. Benefited over 1 million direct and 10 million indirect stakeholders across 19 states and FCT.
Livelihood Enhancements: 5 million date palms distributed, projected to generate ₦300 billion in economic value (₦1 million per tree per year, two harvests annually). Infrastructure improvements and livelihood training created employment for youth and women—205+ machines delivered, 275 farmers trained, 1,397 forest guards employed.
Erosion Control & Food Security: NEWMAP rehabbed major gullies, built catchments reaching 12 million beneficiaries. Carbon sequestration and jobs: part of Africa-wide effort to sequester 250 Mt CO₂ and create 10 million green jobs by 2030.
Quantitative outputs:
Program — Restored Area — Outputs & Impact
NAGGW — Millions of seedlings; 1000+ km shelterbelts; renovated dunes — Trees, orchards, water access, jobs
ACReSAL — ~178,000 ha restored — Watersheds, irrigation, food security
NEWMAP — Dozens of erosion sites; 60 catchments — Stabilized land, protected 12 m people
Challenges & Areas for Improvement
Security Risks & Institutional Gaps: Insurgency and bandit activity in the north have limited field operations. Top‑down approaches without community ownership undermine success.
Funding Shortfalls: NAGGW sometimes receives less than 20 percent of its planned budget; 2023 saw a 60 percent funding cut for alternative livelihoods. Bureaucratic delays often hobble ecological fund disbursement.
Weak Implementation: Case reviews reveal poorly executed contracts, misaligned priorities, and insufficient local engagement. Seedling survival rates remain low—only a small portion mature without natural regeneration.
Coordination & Monitoring Gaps: Fragmented governance across ministries, weak media engagement, limited data transparency, and outdated evaluation systems reduce program effectiveness.
Future Outlook & Strategic Recommendations
Empower Communities & Promote Natural Regeneration: Scale up zai pit and diguette systems; expand nurseries and master‑trainer initiatives to multiply reach and ownership.
Diversify Funding & Strengthen Institutions: Tap climate finance, CSR, and private capital. Encourage state‑level initiatives like “Gombe Goes Green” with strong government buy‑in and local funding.
Improve Coordination & Data Transparency: Link NAGGW, ACReSAL, NEWMAP, and REDD+ through shared GIS and public dashboards for accountability. Expand ACReSAL’s governance model nationwide.
Upscale Technology: Advance smart‑agriculture pilots (e.g., greenhouse drip systems). Expand mobile apps for field monitoring.
Integrate Peace & Security in Restoration: Pair ecological work with grazing reserves, local peacebuilding, and community policing to reduce conflict.
Raise Public Awareness & Engage Private Sector: Launch media campaigns, school education, and CSR partnerships—building a culture of environmental ownership and investment.
Boost Youth Employment & National Climate Goals: Provide certified training in nursery work, drone monitoring, solar pump upkeep, irrigation, and greenhouse projects. Align restoration with net‑zero and REDD+ commitments.
Rooted in Resilience
Nigeria’s desertification combat efforts reflect a journey from diagnosis to real‑world transformation. Hundreds of thousands of hectares are rejuvenated with trees, traditional water systems, and smart irrigation. Youth and women are empowered as ecological stewards. Millions of seedlings have been planted; shelterbelts stretch over 1,300 km. ACReSAL restored nearly 180,000 ha in under four years; NEWMAP protected 12 million lives from erosion. Date planting projects promise income in the hundreds of billions annually.
Although challenges persist—security, underfunding, seedling mortality, fragmented governance—they are solvable. By boosting community ownership, diversifying funding, enhancing transparency, integrating peace efforts, and leveraging youth‑led green economies, Nigeria can transform its drylands into vibrant, climate‑resilient ecosystems with empowered communities.
This isn’t just an environmental campaign. It’s human revival. Every sapling planted, every gully rehabilitated, every young tree nurtured with solar‑lit water pumps, signifies hope. Nigeria’s desertification combat efforts are a story still unfolding—of ingenuity, resilience, and unshakeable belief in a greener future.
