The Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has assured Nigerians that government would provide all the necessary support to combat Sand and Dust Storm (SDS) in the country.
Dr. Salako said this during the commemoration of 2024 World International Day for Combating SDS recently in Abuja.
The Minister pointed out that SDS led to the removal of fertile top soil which results to loss of farm land and crops thereby threatening food production, devastation of the economy, human health and society at large.
The Minister disclosed some of the government efforts towards combating SDS such as; the establishment of the National Agency for Great Green Wall (NGGW), Agro- Climatatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), Presidential Initiative on Climate change and creation of 24 forest greening communities covering 240 hectares of land in 24 Local Government Areas in the county.
He also assured Nigerians that The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT), Green Heroes Project will be implemented using youths and retirees.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary Mahmud Adam Kambari who was respresented by Mrs Mabel Emmanuel, Director, Desertification, Land Degredation and Drought department in the Ministry stated that Nigeria finds itself in closed proximity to the Sahara, where the North Eastern winds carries the dust all the way to Atlantic Ocean.