Vice President Kashim Shettima has announced that Nigeria is set to collaborate with the United Kingdom’s Zander Corporation to restore degraded lands and transform agricultural practices in vulnerable ecological zones.
During a meeting yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with Zander Corporation’s management team led by Lord Raymond Benedict Asquith, the 3rd Earl of Oxford and Asquith OBE, Shettima reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to afforestation as a key strategy for combating desertification, promoting sustainable land use, and boosting agricultural productivity.
“There is a critical intersection between innovative technology and efforts at combating desertification and agricultural transformation in this country,” Shettima stated.
“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.”
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As part of the collaboration, Zander Corporation has donated £250,000 worth of afforestation technology products to Nigeria.
The Vice President emphasised the importance of maximizing the five-hectare pilot project and suggested diversifying into vegetable production and high-demand tree crops like cashews.
“We are in a unique position to take advantage of this opportunity. Sokoto State has already demonstrated commitment, and I believe that Borno and Katsina governments will also embrace this initiative,” he added.
Shettima also acknowledged Lord Oxford’s commitment to training Nigerian agronomists, stressing the link between ecology and the economy in northern Nigeria.
“This innovative technology by Zander Corporation can be our saving grace,” he said.
Lord Oxford reaffirmed Zander Corporation’s dedication to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, noting that the company has operated in the country for over 12 years.
“We have made a donation of our products to Nigeria for deployment in several northern states to demonstrate our capabilities and the remarkable results that can be achieved in agricultural and environmental projects,” he said.
Citing the company’s successes in desert regions like Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Libya, and Southern Spain, Lord Oxford highlighted how their technology has significantly reduced irrigation costs and established sustainable vegetation in arid soils.
He also expressed interest in manufacturing products locally to reduce costs and create jobs.
“Nigeria’s vast land resources make it an ideal location for this kind of investment. We are excited about the potential of this partnership to transform the landscape and the economy,” he added.
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Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, Saleh Abubakar, confirmed the agency’s commitment to implementing Zander Corporation’s technology, stating that a committee had been established to oversee the process.
“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 the communities affected by desertification,” Abubakar said.
