The European Union (EU) has announced a €2 million Regreening Africa Project, to be anchored in Sokoto State, Nigeria as part of measures to tackle desertification and other impacts of global climate change.
The five-year project, which targets 40,000 small holders farmers, women and youth in Wamakko and Wurno local government areas of Sokoto State, would be implemented by the CARE International Nigeria, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and CIFOR-ICRAF is expected to run between 2025 and 2029.
The project launched on Wednesday in Abuja, aimed at strengthening the resilience of smallholder farmers, restoring degraded lands to improve agricultural productivity, and promoting best practices that help farmers and other allied services to adapt to climate change.
Delivering the keynote during the launch of the project, the Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation in Nigeria, Mr. Massimo De Luca, said the impact of climate change and degradation threatens the peace, stability and prosperity of any nation.
He said the project would support livelihoods, reduce vulnerability and contribute to global climate goals by storing carbon and reducing emissions.
De Luca noted: “We are here because the challenges before us are urgent and undeniable. Across Africa’s drylands, and particularly in northern Nigeria, land degradation, climate stress, and food insecurity are threatening livelihoods and futures.
“For millions of smallholder farmers and pastoralists, this means uncertainty. For communities, it means pressure on resources, displacement, and vulnerability. Moreover, for nations, it means risks to peace, stability, and prosperity.
“Nevertheless, we are also here because we believe in the power of solutions. We know that degraded land can be restored. We know that communities can adapt and thrive when given the right tools and support.
“In addition, we know that what begins in Sokoto can serve as a powerful example of resilience, innovation, and hope for the rest of the Sahel and beyond.”
He said that the EU is proud to support the Regreening Africa initiative, building on the strong foundations laid in the first phase, which ran from 2017-2023.
According to him, this is not only an environmental project, it is about people, about ensuring that farmers in Sokoto can increase their yields and secure their families’ nutrition.
The Country Director of CARE International Nigeria, Dr. Hussaini Abdu said the project would boost food security and quality of life.
Abdu, represented by the CARE International Nigeria Interim Country Director, Ms Jennifer Orgle said, “We have seen land degradation through climate change and we know what this leads to reduction in the quality of livelihood, it leads to insecurity because we all end up fighting for the very few resources available when there’s land degradation.
“This project will bring restoration in terms of land and introduce best practices which would make majority of the people improve their farming, improve livelihoods.
“It’s a five-year project and through it, we will see that communities will improve their livelihoods, we will see that women will be able to feed their children and their households better.”