Yobe Sahara Restoration Drive Project

17/09/2026

11/09/2026

The continued development of the Yobe State Land Restoration, Climate Resilience Strategy 2026–2030 and Water Access Framework represents a significant milestone in addressing critical gaps in land restoration, water access, and climate vulnerability across the State.

The strategy provides an important foundation for strengthening the implementation of climate-resilience interventions, particularly in the arid and highly vulnerable areas of Yobe State. It will help guide coordinated efforts to restore degraded land, improve access to water, strengthen community resilience, and address the growing impacts of climate change.

Indeed, this marks a significant step forward in the historical development agenda of the Yobe State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, CON, and reflects the administration’s commitment to building a more climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable, and water-secure Yobe State.

11/09/2026

Day Two of the Workshop on the Development of the Land Restoration and Climate Resilience Strategy 2026–2030 and Water Access Management Framework

Day Two of the workshop brought participants together for an engaging and productive group discussion on the critical need for a comprehensive Land Restoration and Climate Resilience Strategy 2026–2030 and an effective Water Access Management Framework for Yobe State.

Participants examined key environmental and climate-related challenges, identified priority areas, and proposed actionable recommendations to guide the development of practical and sustainable frameworks.

The initiative is strongly aligned with His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, CON’s vision of building long-term resilience across the state, particularly in addressing the critical challenges of environmental degradation, water access, and climate vulnerability.

All relevant stakeholders demonstrated strong commitment to the development and implementation of the frameworks, recognizing the importance of coordinated action, sustainable land management, improved water access, and climate resilience for the future of Yobe State.

The workshop is being held in strategic partnership with YSRDP and FOURCI Nigeria, with a shared commitment to advancing sustainable environmental management and strengthening the resilience of communities across Yobe State.

10/09/2026

The Yobe State Sahara Restoration Drive Project, in strategic partnership with FOURCI Nigeria, has organized a two-day workshop on the development of the Land Restoration and Climate Resilience Strategy 2026–2030 and the Water Access Management Framework for Yobe State.

The workshop was held at R&K Hotel, Kano, and brought together key stakeholders, policymakers, technical experts, and relevant government officials to deliberate on sustainable land restoration, climate resilience, and effective water resources management in the state.

Among the dignitaries and stakeholders in attendance was the Honourable Speaker of the Yobe State House of Assembly and Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Yobe Sahara Restoration Drive Project, who was ably represented by the Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources. Also represented were the Chairman, House Committee on Environment; the representative of the Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Environment, the Permanent Secretary, Public Service; the Permanent Secretary, Security and Cabinet; and the Senior Special Adviser to His Excellency on Research and Project Documentation, Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

The workshop also featured a team of distinguished technical facilitators, including:

- Professor Daniel Gwari
- Professor James Ishaku Dantata
- Dr. Baba Jalo
- Engr. Muhammad Alhaji Muhammad
- Dr. Babagana Bosso
- Mr. Abubakar Ahmed, Director, Forestry and Wildlife
- Dr. Suleiman Muhammad

The technical sessions provided stakeholders with an opportunity to assess existing challenges, share expert knowledge, and develop practical approaches for sustainable land restoration, climate adaptation, environmental management, and improved access to water resources across Yobe State.
The outcome of the workshop is expected to contribute significantly to the articulation of practical and implementable working documents for the Land Restoration and Climate Resilience Strategy 2026–2030 and the Water

09/09/2026

The Yobe Sahara Restoration Drive Project joined stakeholders,International Organizations, Civil society organizations, interregional organizations, government institutions, and other development partners for the official launch of the Climate Sector Working Group in Yobe State—a significant milestone and the first of its kind in the history of the state.

The event was attended by the Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Hon. Ahmed Musa Dumbol, representatives of the Honourable Commissioner for Environment, the Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources, the Honourable Commissioner for Water Resources, and other distinguished dignitaries and stakeholders.

The establishment of the Climate Sector Working Group will provide a platform for effective coordination of climate-related initiatives, implementation strategies, resource mobilization, and partnerships aimed at strengthening climate resilience and sustainable development across Yobe State.

This initiative aligns with the vision of His Excellency, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, CON, on climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and sustainable development planning. Through collective responsibility and coordinated action, stakeholders can make significant progress in promoting sustainable development, land restoration, climate-smart agriculture, environmental protection, and resilient communities across Yobe State and Nigeria.

The Yobe Sahara Restoration Drive Project remains committed to working with government, civil society, development partners, communities, and other stakeholders to advance practical solutions to climate change and land degradation while supporting a greener and more sustainable future for Yobe State.

26/08/2026

Special Closed-Door Meeting on Yobe Sahara Restoration Drive Project

A special closed-door meeting was held with our lead technical partner, Mr. Nabil Ben Khetra, Executive Secretary of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS).

The discussion focused on the action plan, strategic priorities and implementation timeline for the Yobe State Sahara Restoration Drive Project.

The meeting further reinforced our commitment to building a strong technical and strategic partnership to accelerate landscape restoration, combat desertification and strengthen climate resilience across Yobe State.

Indeed, the Yobe State Sahara Restoration Drive Project represents a leading step toward the practical implementation of the Sahara Restoration Drive agenda in Nigeria, with strong potential to support sustainable land management, food security, livelihoods and socioeconomic development.

Our commitment remains clear: from strategy to action, and from restoration to resilience.

25/08/2026

The Nigerian Delegation, together with the Yobe State Government Delegation, engaged in a bilateral meeting with the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Hajiya Amina Mohammed.

The meeting focused on strengthening climate-resilient development and mobilizing resources to address land degradation, advance climate resilience, promote climate-smart agriculture, support Lake Chad development, and scale up afforestation and restoration efforts across Nigeria and the wider Sahel region.

The UN Deputy Secretary-General appreciated the commitment of the Yobe State Government to land restoration and its active engagement in international platforms on climate change and sustainable development.

Yobe State Government remains committed to meaningful engagement, stronger partnerships, and practical solutions that can translate global commitments into action on the ground.

Climate change has no borders and no boundaries. Protecting and restoring our land is a collective responsibility. Together, we must build resilient communities, secure our natural resources, and safeguard the future for generations to come.

From global commitments to practical action—Yobe is ready to contribute.

24/08/2026

Time for Action: Climate Finance and Land Restoration

It is time for action, and there is an urgent need to mobilize climate finance to address the growing challenges of land degradation, desertification, drought, and climate vulnerability.

Global leaders are engaged in strategic negotiations focused on collective responsibility, with the shared objective of advancing land restoration, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and pastoralist development. The Yobe State Delegation is actively participating in international plenary discussions and supporting negotiations that emphasize the urgent need for practical implementation across the Sahel region.

For communities across the Sahel, commitments must translate into action on the ground. We need implementation, not merely declarations.

Public finance alone cannot restore the vast areas of degraded land or build the level of resilience required to protect vulnerable communities. We need to unlock innovative climate finance, private-sector investment, technology, knowledge transfer, and technical capacity development to strengthen sustainable development planning.

Yobe State remains committed to contributing to this global effort through land restoration, climate-smart development, community engagement, pastoralist support, and innovative approaches to building resilient communities.

The time for action is now. The Sahel needs investment, innovation, partnership, and collective responsibility to turn global commitments into measurable results on the ground.