About 15 Northern states with a population of over 40 million people and home to over 95 per cent of Nigeria’s livestock population is affected by rapid desert encroachment, Dr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar has disclosed.

Abubakar made the disclosure Thursday in Abuja at an event organized by the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration in commemoration of the 2021 world desertification and drought day (WDDD).

The minister noted that the problem continues to degrade land resources which provide livelihoods to majority of the rural populace with the ugly consequences of resource use conflicts, hunger, social vices and abject poverty in the affected areas.

“Nigeria is faced with rapid desert encroachment affecting about fifteen Northern most states from severe to moderate rate. “It is worthy of note that these states affected by desertification has a population of over 40million people and is home to over 95 percent of livestock population in Nigeria and has played a major role in the production of food for domestic consumption and export crops,” he said.

According to Abubakar, about 24 billion tons of fertile soil is lost annually across the world due to dry land degradation, which is affecting food production and security.

He said it is estimated that 300 million hectares of land will be required to meet the demand of food by the year 2030.

Marked every June 17 to promote public awareness on the challenges of desertification, land degradation and drought and also highlight methods to tackle these challenges, this year’s World Desertification and Drought Day’ has the theme: Restoration. Land. Recovery – We build back better with healthy land”.

According to him, “the Nigerian Government is not oblivious of these environmental issues and their impacts but is committed to addressing them to ensure sustainable development and livelihoods of the people in the affected communities.”

(Daily Independent)

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