Senate on Wednesday set in motion the law that would bring an end to social conflict between Fulani herdsmen and farmers which had resulted into loss of lives and properties.
The bill seeks to among others; establish the National Agency for the Green Wall for the implementation of the Great Green Wall programme in Nigeria and for related matters 2015.
Then finally passed into law, the bill will support communities to adapt to climate change.
Leading debate on the bill, the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba explained the passage bill will address land degradation and desertification in the Sahara and Sahel Region, enhance food security and support communities to adapt climate change.
He said the bill sought to establish the National Agency for the Great Wall for the implementation of the provision of the convention on the Great Wall programme in Nigeria, management of drought, desertification and afforestation control measures and related matters.
The leader of the Senate informed lawmakers that the total projections/ estimates for the recurrent and capital expenditure for the agency when established will not be more than N521, 920,123.
According to him, projected recurrent expenditure is pegged at N230 million, projected recurrent expenditure N67 million, the capital expenditure for office accommodation, furniture will cost N160 million while purchase of vehicles is pegged at N64 million.
Stating the importance of the bill, Ndoma-Egba said,” the bill will help address degradation and desertification in the Sahara and Sahel Region, enhance food production, reduce poverty, minimize social conflict between pastoralists and farmers with the attendant loss lives and properties which has become quite pervasive of recent particularly in parts of Benue, Nassarawa and Plateau states.
“Above all, it will support communities to adapt to climate change.”
In his remarks, The Senate President, David Mark said the bill should have the Great Green Wall was introduced in 2005 and ten years down, we are just bringing the bill.
“It’s only a clear indication of our fire brigade approach to virtually everything and it’s a pity that we are doing this late.
“We should have signed our legal framework ages ago.
“However, while we want to get this done as quickly as possible, I don’t think government has shown enough alternative to people cutting down trees to use as firewood.
“I think we should gradually begin to learn new methods.
