The goal of
the 2013 World Day to Combat Desertification is to create awareness about the
risks of drought and water scarcity in the dry lands and beyond, calling
attention to the importance of sustaining healthy soils as part of post Rio+20
agenda, as well as the post-2015 sustainable development agenda.
The Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology is
working on a bill setting up an effective framework aimed at tackling
desertification. We are already working with various stakeholders and experts
in the environment sector to see to it that this time we indeed succeed in
rolling back desertification in the north.
Make no mistake about it; desertification is impacting
severely on the life of over 6 million Nigerians in the northern Sahel belt. It
is eating up about 6km of arable land annually. the impact is poverty,
insecurity and dislocation of communities. Rolling back desertification means
empowering our people and helping more people out of poverty. It is giving hope
again to the northern economy and driving social cohesion. This is our mission
and the reason why we cannot relent.
We commend the Federal Government and the Minister of
Environment for coming up with the great green wall initiative. It is hoped
that this initiative is allowed to thrive and remain sustainable and effective.
We call on all Nigerians to join hands with all of us in the sector to provide
a more livable environment for our people wherever they may be. It starts with
adopting better environmental practices like not felling trees for cooking and
planting trees. This simple process replicated by all can make the difference
towards sustaining a health of our soils and save our water source systems.
Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki is Chairman of the Senate Committee
on Environment and Ecology
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