FG shifts Great Green Wall HQ to Kano

The Federal Government has moved the headquarters of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) from Abuja to Kano State in a move aimed at bringing the agency closer to its core areas of operation.

Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said the decision is intended to improve coordination, monitoring, and execution of projects targeted at combating desertification and land degradation across northern Nigeria.

He explained that the agency will now operate from the Afforestation Programme Coordinating Unit (APCU) complex in Kano, a location considered strategically positioned within the programme’s operational zone.

The relocation, according to the minister, aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and reflects a broader policy of situating federal agencies closer to the communities they serve.

With operations spanning 11 frontline states, the Great Green Wall Programme is designed to address environmental challenges in the Sahel-Sahara belt, including desert encroachment, climate change, and declining agricultural productivity.

Lawal noted that relocating from Abuja—where the agency previously operated from a temporary office—would eliminate logistical constraints and enhance direct engagement with state governments, local authorities, and host communities.

He also pointed out that the Kano facility, originally established in 1988 but later underutilised, would now serve as a permanent base for the agency, improving efficiency and reducing operational costs.

The minister expressed optimism that the move would accelerate ongoing interventions, including tree planting, water provision, and community-based environmental projects, while strengthening efforts to improve livelihoods in affected regions.