The African Union (AU) has been commended for adopting the Great Green Wall (GGW) programme.

The commendation was made by Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, senate Committee chairman, Ecology and climate change during the committee’s visit to the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW).

The Senator who said the visit is the first outing of the committee since its set up by the 8th Assembly is certain that the GGW programme will eventually benefit all states in Nigeria.

He assured that climate change is real and should be taken with utmost seriousness, saying that projects in the Environment, Agriculture and Renewable Energy are very useful and require maximum support.

He noted that the major problem of the environment is Desertification and Gully Erosion which if not tackled will be of serious danger to the Nation.

The Director General, National Agency for the Great Green Wall, Goni Ahmed said that the GGW initiative was proposed to the AU, by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 and launched in 2007. He said GGW is been implemented in 11 frontline states of the Northern part of Nigeria which covers 43% of the total land mass of the country with the population of about 40 million.

He said the Agency since its inception, has established kilometres of shelterbelts, hectares of woodlots and Orchards as well as a large number of boreholes sunk in the communities affected for the benefits of the planted trees, the inhabitants and their livestock.

The DG said the GGW programme is not only about planting tress but also to promote alternative means of livelihood, boost food security, poverty alleviation, enhance employment and support communities to adapt to climate change among others.