SEO Riders:
– Shettima pledges 20 billion‑tree campaign inspired by Ethiopia’s Green Legacy.
– Initiative to create green jobs, restore degraded lands and boost economic growth.
– Alignment with Nigeria’s climate goals under Climate Change Act and participation in Great Green Wall.
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has unveiled an ambitious plan to plant 20 billion trees during the next rainy season, as part of the nation’s expanded reforestation and climate resilience strategy. Announced during a state visit to Ethiopia—where Shettima observed the acclaimed Green Legacy Initiative—the announcement underscores Nigeria’s intent to replicate Ethiopia’s success in merging large‑scale environmental restoration with job creation. He described the drive as requiring “immense planning, energy and drive,” noting that the campaign will both restore degraded ecosystems and catalyze economic renaissance.
The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader National Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) achievements—such as restoring over 12 million people across 23 states through catchments and stormwater control —and supports the country’s commitment to its Climate Change Act and the Great Green Wall restoration across the Sahel. With deforestation estimated at 163,000 ha annually, and land loss to desertification threatening northern communities, the 20 billion‑tree initiative seeks to not only boost carbon sequestration and biodiversity but also to buffer against flooding, health threats, and drought. It builds on prior federal efforts—such as planting 25 million trees under the Green Nigeria Initiative—to scale up climate-smart forestry and deliver green jobs nationwide.
