Environment Minister Inaugurates UNCCD Reporting Committee to Strengthen Nigeria’s Fight Against Land Degradation
Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has inaugurated the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Reporting Technical Committee, with a charge to members to ensure the provision of accurate and reliable data to tackle land degradation across the country.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony held recently in Abuja, the Minister described the committee as a critical platform for addressing the growing challenge of desertification and environmental degradation in Nigeria.
According to him, land remains essential not only for infrastructural development but also for food production, warning that continuous degradation could have devastating consequences for national food security and livelihoods.
Lawal emphasized that the committee’s responsibility goes beyond routine reporting, stressing the need for workable and credible data capable of guiding policies and interventions aimed at mitigating land degradation and restoring degraded ecosystems.
He urged members of the committee to collaborate closely with environmental stakeholders, agencies, and relevant government departments to achieve meaningful results in land restoration efforts nationwide.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of promoting alternative cooking energy solutions and increasing tree planting as part of broader efforts to reduce deforestation and environmental degradation.
Describing the selection process of the committee members as rigorous, Lawal said their role is vital to Nigeria’s environmental sustainability agenda and called on them to remain committed and resolute in carrying out their assignment.
Earlier in her remarks, Director of Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought Management, Regina Nwaneri, said the inauguration marked a major step in Nigeria’s commitment to meeting its obligations under the UNCCD framework.
She noted that the reporting process provides an opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its achievements, challenges, and ongoing interventions in sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration.
“The assignment before this Committee is therefore of great importance. Your expertise, dedication, and collaborative efforts will be instrumental in ensuring the delivery of a credible, comprehensive, and timely national report that reflects the true state of implementation in Nigeria,” she stated.
Nwaneri also commended the institutions represented on the committee for their continued support and commitment to the national assignment, expressing optimism that members would work together professionally and collaboratively toward achieving the committee’s mandate.
