The office of Vice President Kashim Shettima has announced that Nigeria is set to enter into a partnership with the United Kingdom’s Zander Corporation to transform agricultural practices and restore degraded lands in the country’s most vulnerable ecological zones.
This comes as he reaffirms the federal government’s commitment to afforestation as a key strategy for combating desertification, promoting sustainable land use, and ensuring long-term agricultural productivity.
Shettima made this statement on Thursday during a meeting with the management of the biotechnology company, led by Lord Raymond Benedict Asquith, the 3rd Earl of Oxford and Asquith OBE, a member of the UK House of Lords, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“There is a critical intersection between innovative technology and efforts to combat desertification and drive agricultural transformation in this country.
“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.
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As part of the collaboration, Zander Corporation has donated £250,000 worth of afforestation technology products to Nigeria.
Shettima emphasized the need to maximize the potential of the five-hectare pilot project, suggesting diversification into vegetable production and tree crops such as cashew, which has high global demand.
“We are in a unique position to take advantage of this opportunity. I want to assure you and your team of the federal government’s support. Sokoto State has already demonstrated commitment, and I believe the governments of Borno and Katsina will also embrace this initiative,” the Vice President said.
Shettima acknowledged Lord Oxford’s commitment to training Nigerian agronomists in best practices for implementing the technology, adding, “There is an intricate relationship between ecology and the economy in the northern part of this country. This innovative technology by Zander Corporation could be our saving grace.”
Earlier, Lord Oxford reaffirmed Zander Corporation’s dedication to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, noting that the company has been operating in the country for over 12 years.
“We have donated our products to Nigeria for deployment in several northern states to showcase our capabilities and the remarkable results achievable in agricultural and environmental projects,” he said.
He highlighted the corporation’s successes in desert regions such as Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Libya, and southern Spain, where its technology has significantly reduced irrigation costs and established sustainable vegetation in arid soils.
Lord Oxford added: “We see Nigeria as a prime location for our work. The country is ready for the kind of results we have delivered elsewhere. Our operations in the Middle East and North Africa have proven effective in reducing irrigation costs and enhancing agricultural sustainability.
“We also see opportunities to manufacture our products in Nigeria, reducing costs and creating employment. Nigeria’s vast land resources make it an ideal location for this investment. We are excited about the potential of this partnership to transform the landscape and the economy.”
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Saleh Abubakar, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to implementing Zander Corporation’s technology.
“We have established a committee to oversee the implementation of these products, which have proven highly effective in building resilience during the pilot program.
“We are piloting this project in Katsina, Borno, and Sokoto states, with five hectares of land already prepared for deployment. We are committed to ensuring that the initiative directly benefits communities affected by desertification,” he said.
Others who spoke at the meeting included the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Idris Muhammad Gobir; a representative of the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, among others.
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