Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to plant 20 billion trees by 2030 as part of efforts to strengthen climate resilience, combat desertification, restore degraded forests, and reduce the impact of climate change across the country.
Gatekeepers News reports that the initiative forms a key component of Nigeria’s broader environmental sustainability and reforestation agenda.
The target was highlighted during the 2026 World Environment Day celebration in Abuja, where the Federal Ministry of Environment formally launched the National Tree Planting Campaign.
The programme is being implemented in partnership with financial institutions and other stakeholders to mobilise resources for large-scale afforestation projects nationwide.
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, described the goal of planting 20 billion trees by 2030 as achievable, adding that the government could even surpass the target if implementation efforts are sustained.
Officials said the campaign is expected to contribute significantly to carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and environmental restoration.
The Director of Forestry, Halima Bwari, warned that Nigeria loses about 163,000 hectares of forest annually due to illegal logging, agricultural expansion, bush burning, and urbanisation.
She stressed that reversing the trend is critical to protecting livelihoods, ecosystems, and food security.
The initiative builds on earlier commitments announced by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who said Nigeria drew inspiration from Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme.
Shettima noted that large-scale tree planting can deliver both environmental and economic benefits through job creation, land restoration, and climate adaptation.
The campaign concluded with symbolic tree-planting exercises, marking the beginning of a five-year national reforestation drive aimed at improving Nigeria’s climate resilience and supporting global efforts to tackle environmental degradation.
