From Abel Leonard, Lafia
A coalition of non-governmental organisations in Nasarawa State has called for concerted efforts by the government, communities, and individuals to combat the devastating effects of climate change through initiatives like tree planting.
This call was made during the celebration of the 2024 World Environment Day in Lafia on Friday. The coalition, comprising the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Mada Hills and the Association of Small-Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN), emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts to address climate challenges.
The World Environment Day campaign, themed: “Our Land Our Future,” focuses on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience. The Executive Secretary of YMCA Mada Hills, Ango Adamu, highlighted the significance of the campaign. “World Environment Day is the United Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of the environment,” he stated.
He noted that YMCA and ASSAPIN have been at the forefront of tree planting initiatives over the past three years. In 2023, the coalition successfully established 13,500 oil palm nurseries in nine communities across five local government areas in Nasarawa State. “This year, a total of 13,500 improved oil palm seedlings from NIFOR will be transplanted by these communities as an effort to fight climate change and restore degraded lands,” Mr. Ango added.
He also announced plans to scale up the initiative in four additional LGAs in 2024. Mr. Ango urged the state government, through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, to support NGOs and other climate change stakeholders in their efforts to restore land, combat desertification, and enhance drought resilience. He emphasised that such support is crucial for the success of these initiatives.