The Federal Government has entered into a strategic partnership with the United Kingdom’s Zander Corporation to tackle desertification and improve agricultural sustainability in Nigeria’s most vulnerable ecological zones.
As part of the collaboration, the UK-based biotechnology company has donated £250,000 worth of afforestation technology to support land restoration and reduce irrigation costs.
Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed the partnership during a meeting with Zander Corporation’s leadership at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.
He explained that afforestation remains a key government strategy for mitigating desertification, restoring degraded lands, and ensuring long-term agricultural productivity.
“As a nation committed to afforestation and sustainable land use, we recognize the value of partnerships that introduce cutting-edge technologies like those from Zander Corporation,” Shettima stated.
Zander Corporation, which has successfully implemented afforestation projects in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Libya, and Southern Spain, is set to replicate its innovative techniques in Nigeria. Shettima noted that the initiative aligns with the federal government’s commitment to leveraging advanced solutions for agricultural transformation.
Pilot Project and Agricultural Potential
The initial phase of the partnership will involve a five-hectare pilot project to demonstrate the effectiveness of Zander Corporation’s technology in land restoration and agricultural diversification. The Vice President highlighted the potential to expand beyond afforestation into vegetable production and high-demand tree crops such as cashew.
“Sokoto State has already demonstrated its commitment to the project, and I believe that Borno and Katsina governments will also embrace this initiative,” Shettima added.
Lord Raymond Asquith, the 3rd Earl of Oxford and Asquith OBE, who led Zander Corporation’s delegation, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation. He noted that Zander has been operating in Nigeria for over 12 years and is exploring the possibility of manufacturing afforestation products locally to reduce costs and create employment opportunities.
“We have donated our products to Nigeria for deployment in several northern states to demonstrate our capabilities. Our operations in the Middle East and North Africa have proven effective in reducing irrigation costs and enhancing agricultural sustainability,” Lord Oxford said.
Government’s Commitment to Environmental Restoration
Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Saleh Abubakar, confirmed the agency’s readiness to implement Zander Corporation’s technology. He disclosed that a committee had been established to oversee the project’s execution in pilot locations, including Katsina, Borno, and Sokoto states, where land has already been prepared for deployment.
“We are committed to ensuring that this initiative directly benefits the communities most affected by desertification,” Abubakar stated.
Vice President Shettima emphasized the broader economic and environmental impact of the initiative, stressing that the innovative technology could serve as a critical tool in Nigeria’s climate adaptation and agricultural reform efforts. He urged the private sector to support afforestation and invest in sustainable land-use practices to complement government interventions.
As Nigeria faces rising climate-related challenges, the partnership with Zander Corporation marks a significant milestone in advancing land restoration, food security, and sustainable agriculture across the nation’s arid regions.
