Abuja, Nigeria – June 28, 2025
Vice President Kashim Shettima has announced that Nigeria will embark on a nationwide tree-planting campaign during the upcoming rainy season, as part of a broader national strategy for reforestation and environmental sustainability.
Speaking on the heels of his recent visit to Addis Ababa for the launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, Shettima revealed that the Nigerian government is drawing strong inspiration from the Ethiopian model, which he described as a powerful example of how climate action can also drive economic opportunity.
“Our commitment to reforestation is unwavering,” Shettima said. “The upcoming rainy season offers us the perfect window to roll out a large-scale tree-planting campaign that will not only combat deforestation but also create jobs, restore biodiversity, and promote long-term environmental resilience.”
The Vice President highlighted that the Ethiopian Green Legacy Programme, which targets the planting of 20 billion trees within four years, stands as a “blueprint for Africa,” adding that Nigeria is poised to replicate similar climate-smart initiatives.
“This is more than a greening project — it is a generational investment in our environment and economy,” he noted.
Shettima reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to climate action and urged Nigerians to actively participate in the tree-planting campaign, which will be executed in collaboration with state governments, traditional leaders, environmental agencies, and civil society organizations.
The initiative is expected to prioritize areas affected by desertification, erosion, and flooding, aligning with Nigeria’s climate adaptation goals and the global push for net-zero emissions.
