FG Launches 2026 Tree Planting Campaign, Urges Nigerians to Plant 10 Trees Each

The Federal Government has called on every Nigerian to plant at least 10 trees within their communities as part of a nationwide effort to combat desertification, restore degraded landscapes and reduce the impact of climate change.

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, made the appeal in Kano during the commemoration of the Great Green Wall Day, the launch of the 2026 National Tree Planting Campaign and the inauguration of the SURRAGGWA National Steering Committee.

The event, themed “The Shield: Restoring Landscapes to Silence the Sand and Dust,” brought together key stakeholders to reinforce Nigeria’s commitment to environmental restoration and sustainable land management.

Lawal described tree planting as one of the most effective strategies for protecting the environment, conserving biodiversity and improving the livelihoods of communities. He urged citizens to actively participate in the campaign by planting and nurturing at least 10 trees in their surroundings.

The minister also called for the enactment and strict enforcement of laws to protect planted trees from indiscriminate felling, stressing that safeguarding green infrastructure is essential to achieving long-term environmental sustainability.

Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Sale Abubakar, disclosed that the agency had been mandated to plant more than 20 million seedlings across the country this year as part of efforts to halt desert encroachment and restore degraded lands.

According to him, the relocation of the agency’s headquarters to Kano will improve coordination and strengthen interventions in frontline states most vulnerable to desertification and land degradation.

Representing Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Dahiru Hashim Muhammad, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to supporting environmental restoration initiatives and collaborating with the Federal Government to tackle climate-related challenges.

Chairman of the NAGGW Governing Board, Senator Magnus Abe, described the Great Green Wall initiative as a critical pillar for sustainable development, environmental resilience and improved livelihoods in affected communities.

Highlights of the event included a visit to the agency’s headquarters in Kano, symbolic tree planting and the distribution of motorcycles to strengthen field operations and project implementation across participating states.