COP17: Nigeria Seeks Early Warning Systems, More Funding

Nigeria has joined the African Group of Negotiators to intensify the call for a legally binding instrument on proactive drought management, increased adaptation financing, and clear accountability to combat severe land degradation.

The nation also reaffirmed commitment to achieving its land degradation neutrality targets in line with the objectives of the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

The Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, made the Nigerian government’s position during the High-level Ministerial Opening Segment of the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), holding in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Lawal, who led Nigeria’s delegation comprising the Director General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Saleh Abubakar, MFR, some management staff of the agency and other Nigerian delegates to the global community event, expressed the nation’s  readiness to translate the outcome of COP17 into concrete action.

Demanding international cooperation and support across finance, water security, land restoration, food systems and soil health, the Minister said for Nigeria, land degradation, desertification and drought are not abstract environmental challenges, noting that they are realities affecting food security, livelihoods, water resources, migration and stability.

According to him, approximately 50 per cent of Nigeria’s land is affected by degradation, with significant consequences for agriculture, pastoralism and rural communities.

Lawal maintained that while Africa remains at the frontline of “these challenges,” Nigeria fully embraces “the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026 as an opportunity to give greater recognition to rangelands and pastoral communities” in the country’s policies and programmes.”

Accordingly, the minister called for greater emphasis on proactive drought management, including early warning systems, national drought plans, anticipatory action and strengthened water security.

He insisted that Nigeria and other partner nations must move from responding to drought after it occurs to anticipating and preparing for its impacts.

“Excellencies, the success of this convention should ultimately be measured not by the number of decisions we adopt, but by the changes we deliver on the ground.

“COP17 must therefore be a COP of implementation. We must move from words to action, from commitments to delivery, and from ambition to measurable results that improve the lives and livelihoods of our people,” Lawal stated.

The minister pledged Nigeria’s readiness to work with the COP Presidency, the secretariat and all parties to achieve practical, inclusive and nationally responsive outcomes.

He thanked the President of COP17, the government and people of Mongolia, and the UNCCD Secretariat for their exemplary leadership, warm hospitality and commitment to the success of the conference.

His words, “We are deeply grateful for the excellent arrangements and commitment demonstrated in hosting the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

“I also wish to commend the President of COP17, Her Excellency Battsetseg Batmunkh, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, for her leadership and commitment in guiding this conference, and the UNCCD Secretariat for its continued efforts in convening Parties and advancing the objectives of the Convention.”

Lawal described the theme of the conference, “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope,” as both timely and highly relevant to Nigeria and the African continent, saying it confront the growing challenges of land degradation, desertification and drought.

Earlier, in his remark, the NAGGW boss, explained that COP17 brings together government officials, scientists, farmers, yoths, Civil Society Organisations and private sector to address the interconnected challenges of dissertification, land degradation and droughts.

The conference, the DG noted, provides Nigeria the platform to exchange, shared ideas and learned from countries that have developed successful land restoration and drought resilience programmes.

Mr Saleh also pointed out that Nigeria’s participation at the ongoing COP17 would enable the country to showcase its scientific knowledge and indigenous practices, establish research and technology partnership, and strengthened cooperation among government, universities and communities.

He said the conference would avail the NAGGW the platform to identify opportunities for technical assistance and investment as well as improve droughts preparedness and early warning systems, and bring Nigeria’s land degradation challenges more prominently into global discussion.

“The importance is particularly clear because land degradation is a global development issue affecting food production,  water availability,  livelihood and economic stability,” the DG said.

Mr Saleh emphasised the need for Nigeria to move increasingly from emergency response towards droughts prediction preparedness, adaptation and resilient.

He assured that the agency would continue to work closely with its local and international partners to arrest desertification and land degradation in the 11 front line of Nigeria’s dry land region with a view to improving food security and curb all forms of violence between farmers and herders in Nigeria.