Threatening food insecurity looms if urgent steps are not taken to tackle land degradation such as desertification, the federal government has warned.
At a national dialogue organised in Abuja to mark the World Desertification and Drought Day, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Yusufu Idris said land degradation increases environmental hazards, climate change crises as well as the loss of biodiversity and ecosystems.
The Permanent Secretary said there was need for a deliberate effort to give women more access to land and associated assets, “equitable land rights for women and vulnerable groups are critical for sustainable land restoration.”
“It’s time for women and girls to be at the forefront of global land restoration and drought resilience efforts,” he said.
Director-General, National Council on Climate Change Dr Salisu Dahiru said gender mainstreaming had become necessary in combating the challenges of climate change.
Dahiru noted that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change had a specific section focusing on gender, giving women the pivotal role of driving these processes.
“Women and girls are largely in a disadvantaged position, the project has different support systems aimed at empowering the women”, the National Project Coordinator of the World Bank’s Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes ACReSAL Abdulhameed Umar explained.
The Executive Director, Center for Journalism Innovation and Development Dr Tobi Oluwatola expressed concern that lack of ownership and control of land resources by women exposes them to hunger, poverty, displacement and gender-based violence.
The dialogue is focused on the theme of this year’s World Desertification and Drought Day, “Her Right, Her Land: Advancing Gender Equality and Land Restoration Goals.
