Buhari assumes PAGGW leadership

President Muhammadu Buhari has assumed the presidency of the Pan Africa Agency of the Great Green Wall of the Sahel and Sahara Initiative (PAGGW) during the fourth Ordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government (CHSG) held in Abuja.

Minister of State for the Environment, Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, in a statement after the meeting, said the Nigerian leader would hold the post for two years and accelerate the Decennial Priority Investment Plan (DPIP) 2021-2030 and its concrete implementation action.

“This means that within the period, Nigeria will work assiduously towards addressing the problems of land degradation, food security, desertification, climate change, depletion of the forest ecosystems and biodiversity in Africa, among others,” she said.

The minister stated that with the “unparalleled commitment of Mr. President to addressing issues of climate change and desertification, coupled with the immense respect he commands within the international community, a lot would be achieved during his tenure.”

She recalled that at the Glasgow, Scotland Climate Change Summit (COP 26), the President expressed optimism about Africa’s ambition to restore over 100 million hectares of degraded landscapes for productive agriculture.

According to her, Buhari, in his acceptance speech, stated: “All things being equal, we shall strengthen our efforts in mobilisation of resources to realise financial pledges in Paris, France. This would be given utmost priority.”

He pledged the restoration of the continent’s degraded ecosystems and “ensuring the resilience of our people against climate change effects is strengthened and (addressing) all issues connecting with global warming.”