The Federal Government  has reiterated the importance of planting and nurturing trees that will provide vegetation cover and protect farmlands from the encroachment of desert especially in the northeastern part of the country.


Speaking during the celebration of the International Sand and Dust Storm Day in Abuja celebrated on July 12,  the Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako said the day was set aside by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms (SDS). 


He said, Sand and Dust Storms (SDS) are atmospheric phenomena that occur mostly in the dry lands but its impacts are witnessed beyond dry lands due to long-range transportation of sand and dust mostly originating from arid, semi-arid and dry sub humid areas. 


The purpose of proclaiming  July 12  as the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms by the United Nations General Assembly according to him, includes to raise awareness on the catastrophic effects of Sand and Dust Storms as well as it’s causes, impacts and preventive measures; to sensitize policy and decision makers on the causes and socio- economic impacts of Sand and Dust Storms.


Also to advocate at the International, National and Regional levels on the need to share knowledge, best practices and measures to mitigate the sources and impacts of SDS to strengthen observation, forecast and adaptive capacities of the countries to cope with the adverse effects of SDS.


The Minister added that: “Globally, afforestation and reforestation has been considered as the easiest and cheapest methods to restore the ecosystem, protect our biodiversity as well as, reduce the impact of climate change. 


He explained that: “The absence of forests/trees leads to loss of vegetation cover and extreme weather conditions such as heatwaves and droughts, it is also a major factor that allows movement of sand particles across areas with less or no vegetation cover otherwise known as SDS.”


Salako while addressing the press,  said: “This phenomenon occurs when strong turbulent winds blow over unconsolidated dry grained sand transporting it to where vegetation covers are sparse or absent.


“The origin where this sand and dust storm originates from areas devoid of vegetation such as the Sahara desert.”


 He said that to combat SDS, I must emphatically state the importance of planting and nurturing tress that will provide vegetation cover and protect farmlands from the encroachment of desert especially in the northeastern part of Nigeria. The existence of forests across the country is very crucial to the campaign against SDS.  


He noted that, SDS usually result in the removal of fertile topsoil which is a major cause of loss of farmland and crops thereby threatening the sustainability of food production. 


He stated that the Federal Ministry of Environment and the UNCCD carried out an SDS Risk Reduction Project aimed at enhancing knowledge and developing predictive modelling about SDS risk 


He noted that: “Even though Nigeria is not a source country for SDS, it is one of the frontline countries whose close proximity to the Sahara makes it vulnerable to SDS activities. 


SDS occurs with intensity in the months of November to February which is locally known as Harmattan period. Dust particles are transported regularly from dust sources across the country towards the Atlantic Ocean during the dry season.