News in brief:
– Nigeria plans to plant 20 billion trees during the next rainy season as part of a major reforestation and environmental sustainability effort inspired by Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative.
– Vice President Shettima announced the initiative during a visit to Ethiopia, highlighting its potential to create jobs, combat climate change, and support agricultural transformation.
In a bold move to combat climate change, restore degraded land, and boost jobs, Nigeria has announced plans to plant a staggering 20 billion trees during the next rainy season. Vice President Kashim Shettima revealed this ambitious reforestation drive during his official visit to Ethiopia, where he toured several agricultural and industrial projects.
The initiative is part of Nigeria’s wider environmental sustainability and economic diversification agenda. Speaking after visiting sites such as the Adama Dairy Farms and the Shera Dibandiba Mojo Family Integrated Farm, Shettima described Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, which has planted over 25 billion trees since 2019, as a model Nigeria hopes to learn from and replicate.
Nigeria will embark on massive tree planting and its campaign thereof in the upcoming rainy season as part of its national reforestation and environmental sustainability drive, according to Vice President @KashimSM.
The initiative draws strong inspiration from Ethiopia’s Green… pic.twitter.com/nm70R7Vh5c
— Senator Kashim Shettima (@officialSKSM) June 28, 2025
“We intend to plant 20 billion trees in the next rainy season,” Shettima declared. “It requires a lot of planning, energy, and drive, which Ethiopia was able to galvanise its population into doing.”
The tree-planting effort aims not only to combat deforestation and climate-related challenges but also to create green jobs, especially for youth and rural communities. It is expected to complement Nigeria’s agricultural transformation strategy, which includes boosting the production and export of crops such as avocado, pineapple, mango, cashew, and cocoa.
Shettima praised Ethiopia’s agricultural turnaround, particularly in wheat production, where the country transitioned from importing $1 billion worth annually to becoming a regional exporter. He emphasised the importance of collaboration between Nigeria and Ethiopia, noting that together the two nations represent over 350 million people, more than the population of the United States.
“If Nigeria and Ethiopia work, Africa will work,” he said.
Kingsley Uzoma, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness, added that the trip aligns with President Tinubu’s vision to replicate successful agricultural models from across Africa and reduce Nigeria’s economic dependence on oil.
With the rainy season in full swing, all eyes will be on how Nigeria mobilises resources and communities to achieve what could become one of the largest tree-planting initiatives in African history.
