Environment

Desertification, drought remain most pressing environmental problems – Don

Published

6 years ago

June 18, 2019

Agency Report

The Dean, Faculty of Environmental Science, Nasarawa State University Keffi, Nigeria Prof. Nasiru Idris, has said desertification and drought remain the most pressing environmental problems facing Nigeria.

Idris said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja to commemorate the 2019 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.

The 2019 theme, “Let’s Grow the Future Together” focuses on three key issues related to land – drought, human security and climate.

The day, which raises awareness of international efforts to combat desertification, was established 25 years ago along with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

“Despite attempts made by government and the international community at checking desert encroachment through afforestation, desertification and drought, they still remain the most pressing environmental problem in the dry land parts of the country.

“The visible sign of this phenomenon is the gradual shift in vegetation from grasses, bushes and occasional trees to grass and bushes; and in the final stages, expansive areas of desert-like sand.

“Indeed, Nigeria loses over 350,000ha annually to advancing desert, the dunes are threatening life-supporting oasis, burying water points, and in some cases engulfing major roads in the affected areas.’’

He said that trees planted by government as shelter belts to check the advancing dunes were withering due to lack of attention.

“In spite of the huge efforts by governments in form of financial and material resources geared towards boosting afforestation programmes, very minimal success has been realised in sections of the few of the affected states.

“The worsening problem of desertification is quite glaring as an estimated 50 to 75 per cent of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara States in Nigeria are affected by desertification and are particularly vulnerable to wind erosion.

“These states, with a population of more than 70 million people account for about 43 per cent of the country’s total land area.

“With the country losing over 350,000 hectares of land yearly to desertification, it cannot afford to watch while arable land is being lost to desert encroachment.’’

The don said that in the arid and semi-arid zone of northern Nigeria, there was widespread land degradation, mainly attributed to deforestation and drought.

“Increasing agricultural intensity and livestock over-grazing, combined with increasing demands for fuel wood have led to a rate of deforestation estimated to be 3.5 per cent, one of the highest in the world.

“Livestock densities are high, the majority owned by the nomadic Fulani, who retain large herds for security.

“Soils in the region are ferruginous tropical soils, generally of poor structure and low fertility: the hot and dry climate causes bare, un-vegetated soils to easily heat up.

“This is, especially during the dry season, resulting in soil baking, and with high evaporation rates, the soil becomes powdery and easily blown away by the wind.’’

He therefore recommend more comprehensive innovations to enhance existing economic activities such as farming, fuel wood production, and pottery for fuel-efficient stoves to be implement through existing social institutions.

“These afforestation project innovations can be replicable in other arid regions where there are similar soil types, vegetation, land-use and social structures.

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Environment

Royal Commonwealth Society Kicks Off Clean Oceans Campaign in Nigeria

Published

3 months ago

July 8, 2025

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Commonwealth Games Nigeria, has officially launched the Clean Oceans Plastic Awareness Campaign in Nigeria, aiming to combat the growing threat of plastic pollution across the Commonwealth.

The campaign was flagged off on Wednesday at Jabi Lake, Abuja, with a strong message of environmental responsibility, especially for Nigeria’s youth.

The initiative is designed to raise awareness about plastic pollution, encourage proper waste disposal, and promote environmental stewardship—particularly around the country’s waterways.
Speaking at the launch, the Country Director and CEO of the Royal Commonwealth Society Nigeria, Mr. Blackson Olaseni Bayewumi, emphasized that the campaign is part of a global Commonwealth-wide effort to curb plastic waste and protect ocean ecosystems.

He highlighted the critical role of sports as a tool for engaging young people and driving meaningful change in environmental behavior.

“The Commonwealth accounts for one-third of the world’s ocean waters, and nearly half of its member countries are Small Island Developing States that suffer disproportionately from plastic pollution,” Bayewumi noted.

According to him, the Royal Commonwealth Society’s Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign aims to prevent at least one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways.

The campaign blends grassroots education with direct community action, urging people to reduce their plastic footprint, embrace alternatives, and promote cleaner oceans.

A major component of the campaign is its integration with the King’s Baton Relay—a hallmark of the build-up to the Commonwealth Games. In a groundbreaking move, the 2025-2026 relay will spotlight sustainability and environmental protection, beginning with its launch by His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day 2025. The Baton Relay is now on a 500-day journey across all Commonwealth nations and territories ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

In each country, including Nigeria, the Baton Relay will bring together youth, athletes, local communities, and environmental groups for a week of activities—most notably, organized plastic clean-up drives.

The urgency of this campaign is underlined by alarming statistics: the world produces 400 million tonnes of plastic every year, with over 12 million tonnes ending up in the oceans.
Without urgent action, scientists predict that by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the sea.

Plastic waste poses a deadly threat to marine life—suffocating birds, fish, and mammals while damaging key ecosystems.

Moreover, as plastics break down into microplastics due to ocean erosion and sunlight, they enter our food, water, and even air.

Although the full health implications of microplastics remain unknown, early research suggests they may disrupt vital bodily functions—and there is currently no method to fully remove them from the environment or our bodies.
The campaign supports multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

SDG 12: Responsible, Consumption and ProductionSDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water

It also reflects the core principles of the Commonwealth Charter, especially: Article 9: Sustainable Development. Article 10: Protection of the Environment and Article 14: Recognition of the Needs of Small States

As the world grapples with escalating environmental challenges, the Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign represents a significant step in uniting nations, communities, and young leaders under a shared mission: to protect our oceans, preserve biodiversity, and build a cleaner, safer world for future generations.

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