FG Launches One-Million-Tree Campaign at NDA to Combat Climate Change and Desertification

The Federal Government has inaugurated a one-million-tree planting campaign at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, as part of efforts to tackle climate change, desertification, deforestation, and biodiversity loss across the country.

The initiative, launched on Monday at the NDA Biodiversity Conservation Centre, is a collaborative effort involving the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), the NDA, and Fifth Chukker.

Representing the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, Kaduna State Commissioner for Environment, Abubakar Buba, described the project as a major environmental intervention with significant ecological and socio-economic benefits.

Buba noted that Kaduna State faces growing environmental threats, including desert encroachment in the northern region and persistent deforestation in the south, both of which continue to endanger biodiversity, water resources, and agricultural productivity.

“Kaduna stands at a critical ecological crossroads. To our North, desertification continues its relentless march, while to our South, deforestation has steadily eroded forest cover that once moderated rainfall patterns and protected vital watersheds,” he said.

He explained that the initiative aligns with the Federal Ministry of Environment’s commitment to promoting sustainable environmental management and strengthening climate resilience.

The commissioner praised the partnership between AFC and the NDA, highlighting the academy’s conservation area as a secure and structured environment capable of supporting the success of the reforestation programme.

According to him, the planting of one million trees will deliver tangible environmental gains, including carbon sequestration and support for Nigeria’s obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement.

“The planting of one million trees represents a significant ecological intervention capable of sequestering substantial quantities of carbon dioxide while advancing Nigeria’s commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement,” Buba stated.

He added that the project’s focus on establishing a natural and self-sustaining forest ecosystem, rather than a monoculture plantation, would enhance biodiversity conservation, wildlife protection, and ecosystem resilience.

Buba also reaffirmed the Kaduna State Government’s support for the programme, revealing that the state had previously supplied 10,000 tree seedlings to the NDA, all of which were successfully planted and are thriving.

Speaking during the launch, AFC President and Chief Executive Officer, Ismail Zubairu, said the initiative reflects the corporation’s dedication to environmental sustainability and long-term development.

“We have not gathered merely to plant trees. We have gathered to plant a promise — a promise to this land, to the communities around it, and to future generations,” he said.

Zubairu identified environmental degradation, deforestation, and biodiversity loss as key challenges to sustainable development, particularly in northern Nigeria, stressing that economic growth must go hand in hand with environmental conservation.

He described the NDA as a strategic partner due to its vision of developing the country’s largest man-made conservation centre and becoming a leading hub for biodiversity and sustainability research.

The AFC boss further disclosed that the corporation would plant two additional trees for every tree sponsored by its employees as part of the programme.

Beyond tree planting, he said the initiative would support conservation research, environmental education, skills acquisition, green job creation, and the development of a nursery and seed bank for threatened plant species.

In his remarks, NDA Commandant, Major General John Ochai Olatoye, described environmental degradation as a national security concern that requires urgent collective action.

“Environmental security is national security. A nation cannot be secure if its land is barren, its water is scarce, and its air is compromised,” he said.

Olatoye revealed that the academy established the Biodiversity Conservation Centre two years ago to conserve indigenous plant and animal species, restore ecological balance, and promote environmental research and training.

He noted that the newly planted trees would aid carbon capture, reduce erosion, and serve as an educational resource for future military leaders.

The commandant also commended AFC for demonstrating how financial institutions can contribute meaningfully to environmental sustainability and national development, while urging officers, cadets, and staff to embrace environmental stewardship as part of their responsibility to safeguard the nation’s future.