The Ecological Fund Office (EFO) yesterday raised the alarm over the increasing spate of desert encroachment in some parts of the country, stressing that over 35million Nigerians are currently facing the threat of hunger arising from the scourge.
A recent United Nations report put the volume of cropland and rangeland lost to desertification annually at 1,355 square miles, with the 11 frontline states of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara being the worse hit.
EFO Permanent Secretary, Mr. Goni Sheikh, who spoke at the "One-day brain storming on formulating sustainable drought and desertification control projects", lamented that with the scale of desert encroachment in the country, 35million people are at the verge of losing their means of livelihood.
He said: "Between 50% and 75% of the 11 frontline states' land mass are losing about 1,355 square miles of the cropland and rangeland as a result of desertification. Because of this development, Nigeria is believed to be losing approximately 32,000-35,000 hectares of land per year; with a least 35million people facing threats of hunger and economic downturn due to the present scale of desertification."
To forestall drift and its attendant consequences, Sheikh advocated more action in government's drive to rehabilitate and improve the agro-pastoral systems for a more effective and sustainable management of cropland, rangelands as well as evolving alternative livelihood systems.
National Mirror