Perceived Environmental Impacts of Sustainable Land Management Practices in Nigeria’s Great Green Wall Frontline States

Author's Information:

Mukhtar Ahmad

Sustainable Development Centre, University of Abuja

Sule Magaji

Department of Economics, University of Abuja. ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9583-3993

Yahaya Ismail

Department of Economics, University of Abuja. ORCID ID: 0009-0006-7876-9524

Vol 2 No 07 (2025):Volume 02 Issue 07 July 2025

Page No.: 615-623

Abstract:

This research examines how Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices are viewed in terms of their environmental impacts in the eleven frontline states of Nigeria, as overseen by the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW). Employing a mixed-methods approach, data were gathered from 550 participants, including farmers, extension agents, and local officials across the states of Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, and Adamawa. The principal findings reveal prevalent perceptions of environmental degradation, characterised by increasing soil erosion, reduced vegetation cover, and a decline in water availability. While specific SLM initiatives, notably afforestation, contour farming, and water harvesting, were associated with moderate improvements in crop yields and soil health in specific communities, the effectiveness of these practices varied considerably based on location and community engagement. The findings underscore the need for community-driven, ecologically sound, and institutionally supported SLM frameworks to address the escalating environmental vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s drylands.  

KeyWords:

Sustainable Land Management, Environmental Impact, Soil Erosion, Vegetation Cover, Great Green Wall, Nigeria, Dryland Restoration, Community Participation

References:

  1. Abubakar, U. S., Magaji, S., & Ismail, Y. (2025). Assessing The Social and Environmental Justice of Compensation Mechanisms for Road Infrastructure Projects in Nigeria. International Journal of Innovative Environmental Studies Research, 13(2):101-116, doi:10.5281/zenodo.15482657
  2. Adebayo, A. A., & Olorunfemi, F. B. (2020). Evaluation of land restoration efforts in semi-arid Nigeria: Lessons from Yobe and Katsina. Journal of Environmental Management and Sustainability, 9(2), 45–60.
  3. African Union Commission. (2021). The Great Green Wall Initiative: Implementation Status and Way Forward. Addis Ababa: AUC Publications.
  4. African Union Commission. (2021). The Great Green Wall Initiative: Implementation Status and Way Forward. Addis Ababa: AUC Publications.
  5. Afu, S. M., Olim, D. M., Afangide, A. I., Ediene, V. F., Akpama, A. I., & Bisong, S. B. (2024). Assessment of soil quality for sustainable land management using machine learning and digital soil mapping techniques in Obudu Cattle Ranch, Nigeria. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.4314/gjass.v23i1.7
  6. Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behaviour. Organisational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
  7. Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behaviour. Organisational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
  8. Akinbode, S. O., Folorunso, O., Olutoberu, T. S., Olowokere, F. A., Adebayo, M., Azeez, S. O., Hammed, S. G., & Busari, M. A. (2024). Farmers' Perception and Practice of Soil Fertility Management and Conservation in the Era of Digital Soil Information Systems in Southwest Nigeria. Agriculture, 14(7), 1182. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14071182
  9. Blaikie, P., & Muldavin, J. (2004). Upstream, downstream, China, India: The politics of environment in the Himalayan region. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 94(3), 520–548.
  10. DFID. (1999). Sustainable Livelihoods Guidance Sheets. London: UK Department for International Development.
  11. FAO. (2011). The state of the world’s land and water resources for food and agriculture (SOLAW). Rome: Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
  12. FAO. (2011). The state of the world’s land and water resources for food and agriculture (SOLAW). Rome: Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
  13. Ibrahim, M. A., Lawal, A. M., & Shettima, B. A. (2022). Assessing the effectiveness of NAGGW projects in northeastern Nigeria: A case study of Borno and Sokoto. African Journal of Environment and Development, 14(1), 72–89.
  14. Ismail, A., Bash K. M, & Magaji, S. (2019). "Socio-Economic and Cost-Effective on Deforestation Compliancy Policies as Opposed to Pure Deterrence Model of Regulatory Compliance", European Scientific Journal, 15 (28), 253
  15. Magaji, S. & Haruna, Y. (2012). "Portrait of low Savings in Africa". Second Congress of African Economists. Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Available at: pages. au. int/.../Magaji_S PORTRAITOF_LOW_SAVINGS_IN_AFRI
  16. Magaji, S., & Adamu, A. M. (2011). "Youth Employment in Nigeria Since Independence". International Conference on Nigeria at 50. September, Abuja. Pp. 686-707
  17. Magaji, S., Ismail, Y. & Musa, I., (2025). Impact of Institutional Quality on Human Capital Development in Nigeria. MSI Journal of Economics and Business Management. 2(2), 21–26. DOI:-10.5281/zenodo.14936039
  18. Magaji, S., Musa, I., Enejere, G. I., & Ismail, Y. (2025). Enhancing Sustainable Consumption and Production for Poverty Alleviation in Eleme, River State of Nigeria. GAS Journal of Economics and Business Management (GASJEBM). 2(1), 45–59. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15239335
  19. Magaji, S., Tanko, Y., Musa, I. (2025). The Effect of Green Loan and Green Mortgage on Climate Change Mitigation in Nigeria. International Journal of Current Science Research and Review. 8 (6), 3124-3138.
  20. Muhammad, I. Z., & Boso, B. (2024). Evaluating vegetation dynamics along the Great Green Wall in Yobe State, Nigeria, using NDVI analysis. Scientifica, UMYU, (598). 
  21. Mustapha, H., & Abdullahi, M. (2019). Sustainability of land management interventions in Nigeria’s semi-arid zones. International Journal of Dryland Studies, 6(3), 101–118.
  22. Nkonya, E., Mirzabaev, A., & von Braun, J. (2016). Economics of Land Degradation and Improvement – A Global Assessment for Sustainable Development. Springer.
  23. Okereke, C. O., Amoge, V. C., & Ejiofor, E. E. (2024). Assessing perceived benefits of sustainable land management practices among smallholder crop farmers in Southeast Nigeria. African Journal of Social Issues, 7(1). 
  24. Ologbonori, S. T., Magaji, S., Musa, I. (2025). Assessing the Critical Needs Driving Rural Development in Nigeria: Implications for Sustainable National Development. MRS Journal of Accounting and Business Management, 2 (7),1-10 
  25. Olumba, G. O., et al. (2025). Investigating the constraints and mitigation strategies for the adoption of sustainable land management practices in erosion-prone areas of Southeast Nigeria. Environmental Managementhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-024-02104-y
  26. Pender, J., & Gebremedhin, B. (2007). Determinants of agricultural and land management practices and impacts on crop production and household income in the highlands of Tigray, Ethiopia. Journal of African Economies, 17(3), 395–450.
  27. Premium Times Nigeria. (2024). Consumed by terror: Insecurity and other factors threaten Africa’s ambitious Great Green Wall—premium Times.
  28. Reij, C., Tappan, G., & Smale, M. (2009). Agroenvironmental transformation in the Sahel: Another kind of “Green Revolution”. International Food Policy Research Institute.
  29. Reij, C., Tappan, G., & Smale, M. (2009). Agroenvironmental transformation in the Sahel: Another kind of “Green Revolution”. IFPRI Discussion Paper 00914.
  30. Remote Sensing Journal. (2024). A preliminary assessment of land restoration progress in the Great Green Wall Initiative region using satellite remote sensing measurements. Remote Sensing, 16(23), 4461. 
  31. Tanko, Y., Magaji, S., & Musa, I. (2025). Effect of green finance on climate change mitigation in Nigeria. International Journal of Economic Perspectives, 19(7), 1–22.
  32. The Associated Press. (2025). Nigeria faces a food security challenge due to the scarcity of water for crop irrigation. AP News
  33. UNCCD. (2020). The Global Land Outlook – Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Report. Bonn: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
  34. WOCAT. (2018). Sustainable Land Management in Practice: Guidelines and Best Practices for Sub-Saharan Africa. Bern: World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT).
  35. WOCAT. (2018). Sustainable Land Management in Practice: Guidelines and Best Practices for Sub-Saharan Africa. Bern: World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies.
  36. World Bank. (2006). Sustainable Land Management: Challenges, opportunities, and trade-offs. Washington, D.C.: World Bank Publications.
  37. World Bank. (2024). Agro‑Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project overview. World Bank Reports. (Wikipedia)