Drought and Desertification as They Affect Nigerian Environment

Desertification is a long standing and serious Environmental problem which affects most parts of northern Nigeria. It results from a combination of drought and mismanagement of land especially from the disharmony between land use and management on the one hand and the soil and prevailing climate on the other hand. Human activities which include deforestation, overgrazing, surface mining, misuse of water resources among others are some of the causes of the problem. It has adversely impacted the nation in the areas of food crop security, fish production hydroelectric power generation etc. Although some governments in the northern states have made certain efforts towards tackling the problem, frantic, concerted and collaborative effort is required between the states concerned and the Federal government. Unless the development and management of the traditional resources in our marginal areas are carefully planned, the type of environmental catastrophe vial desertification ravaging some African countries may also occur in Nigeria