‘Desertification, most pressing environmental challenge facing Nigeria’

Ayuba, who made the observation at a brainstorming session organised by the Ecological Fund Office on formulating sustainable desertification and drought control projects in Abuja, noted that the extent and severity of desertification in the country has not been fully established, neither is the rate of its progression properly documented.“It is estimated that the country […]

Ayuba, who made the observation at a brainstorming session organised by the Ecological Fund Office on formulating sustainable desertification and drought control projects in Abuja, noted that the extent and severity of desertification in the country has not been fully established, neither is the rate of its progression properly documented.
“It is estimated that the country is losing about 351,000 hectares of its landmass to desert conditions annually and such conditions are estimated to be advancing southwards at the rate of about 0.6km per year. Desertification account for about 73 per cent out of the estimated total cost of about $5.1 billion per annum the country is losing arising from environmental degradation,” he said.
He listed effects of desertification in the country to include increased soil erosion, decrease in soil productivity and fertility, decrease and deterioration of biomass, biodiversity and endangering flora and fauna.
Also speaking, Dr Ibrahim Baba-Yakubu, an asscoate professor of geography at the Bayero University Kano said Nigeria would combat desertification if adequate attention was given to the natural regeneration of indigenous tree species.
Baba-Yakubu, who also bemoaned the lack of information on the extent of desertification in the country, said there was no comprehensive study of the state of desertification in country and as a result it was difficult to proffer solutions that would address the situation.
He therefore advocated the establishment of an institution that would liaise with universities to undertake comprehensive studies on the issues and advise government appropriately.
He also called for the training of community members especially in the 11 frontline northern states on how to raise tree nurseries.
Engr. Goni Sheikh said that the session was aimed at seeking practical knowledge-based ways of formulating and designing sustainable drought and desertification project.
He cited a United Nations report saying that Nigeria was losing about 1,355 square miles of cropland and rangeland annually. due to desertification.