According to Premium Times reporting, the Federal Ministry of Environment has raised an alarm over severe land degradation and desertification threatening approximately 650,000 square kilometers of rangeland across Nigeria. Environmental experts warn that progressive land degradation poses significant threats to agricultural productivity, pastoral livelihoods, and ecological balance.
In response, government policymakers are preparing a national land restoration program aimed at combatting soil erosion and expanding sustainable land management practices. The initiative will involve multi-agency collaboration, regional environmental bodies, and rural agrarian communities.
Policy advisors emphasize that protecting rangelands is crucial to curbing resource-based conflicts between farmers and herders. Sustainable land use management is set to receive higher priority in upcoming federal budget allocations and climate action strategies.
The Guardian and Leadership both covered the national environmental briefing delivered by government ministers. The Guardian reported that “combating rangeland degradation is now recognized as a critical priority for national food security,” while Leadership noted that “inter-agency task forces are being assembled to implement land recovery programs.”
Echotitbits take:
Addressing environmental degradation is essential for sustaining domestic agriculture and preventing rural conflicts over land resources. Watch for new regulatory policies and reforestation programs targeting impacted northern farming belts.
Source: Premium Times – https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/901993-nigerias-650000sq-km-rangelands-threatened-by-degradation-desertification-minister.html, August 11, 2026
Photo credit: Premium Times
