The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to motivating and promoting proactive measures on environmental issues, saying that their valuable decisions are aimed at restoring climate adaptation and mitigation actions for sustainable development in the country.

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal stated this at the 2026 Top Management Retreat/ National Tree Planting Campaign in Maiduguri, Borno state, saying that they will restore degraded landscapes, conserving biodiversity, and have capacity to address the impacts of climate change.

Lawal hinted that Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025, is a key policy instrument of President Tinubu’s administration, aimed to protect Nigeria’s forest resources, curb illegal logging, and encourage tree planting as a national duty.

The Minister however pledged their continued partnership with the states on afforestation, ecosystem restoration, and other interventions tailored to the region’s needs, adding that they would work with Borno, and promised to sponsor twenty students from the the state.

“Together, Nigeria’s environment future can be secured by protecting natural heritage, strengthening climate resilience, and advancing inclusive and sustainable development for present and future generations”, he stated.

The Environment Minister re-emphasized that the environment is not an abstract concept, rather,
it is the air we breathe, the land that feeds us, the rivers that sustain communities, and the climate change that shapes the future.

“Nigeria as a country shares unprecedented environmental challenges, creeping desertification in the North; devastating floods and erosion in the South-East and South-South; oil pollution and gas flaring in the Niger Delta; rampant deforestation; and the escalating impacts of climate crisis.”

According to him “These are daily realities affecting millions of citizens and threatening food security, public health, livelihoods, and national development, and
Renewed Hope Agenda has intensified efforts toward building a cleaner, greener, and more resilient Nigeria.”

He highlighted landmark initiatives of Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project and the National Agency for the Great Green Wall restored over 1.14 million hectares of degraded land and supported the planting of more than 1.5million trees across the country.

Similarly , Lawal added that the achievements demonstrate a clear national commitment to securing environmental sustainability while advancing economic growth, commended Governor Zulum for sponsoring 540 students in Federal Colleges of forestry resources management institute in Maiduguri.

He explained that the giant strides in the environment sector in the state, and urged state governors to providing sponsorship for students to various Federal Colleges of forestry resources management institutions located across the six (6) geo-political zones of the country to encourage and boost Forest education in the country.

Also speaking, Governor Babagana Zulum stated explicitly that the students will exhibit unwavering commitment to protecting the environment,combating climate change, restoring degraded ecosystem and improving the quality of life of the people of Borno state.

He commended the 20th Shehu of Borno His Eminence, Alhaji (Dr.) Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi, the entire people of Borno state for the warm hostility accorded the Minister and his Management team during the Retreat.

Earlier,the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Salihu A. Usman expressed the sincere appreciation to Governor Zulum and to good people of the state for the warm hospitality, excellent arrangements and commitment to environmental sustainability and development.

Dr. Salihu hinted that the choice of Borno State as the venue for the retreat is particularly significant as it represents a powerful story of resilience, a place that has faced many challenges yet continues to rebuild, innovate and look confidently towards the future.

The Director General, Borno state Agency for the Great Green Wall, Amb. Aliyu Usman stated that the state has emerged as national leader in afforestation, climate- smart Agriculture, renewable energy eco system restoration and sustainable water resources management.