Nigeria don join oda African countries to dey call for one legally binding framework on proactive drought management, more money for adaptation, and clear accountability to handle land degradation.

Di country also talk sey dem still dey committed to achieve land degradation neutrality according to di objectives of di 17th Session of di Conference of di Parties (COP17) to di United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) wey dey happen for Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Di Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, state Nigeria position during di high-level ministerial opening of di conference.

Lawal, wey lead Nigeria delegation, say di country ready to turn di outcome of COP17 into real action.

E call for stronger international cooperation and support for financing, water security, land restoration, food systems and soil health.

E say land degradation, desertification and drought no be just abstract environmental issues for Nigeria, but challenges wey dey affect food security, livelihoods, water resources, migration and stability.

According to am, about 50 per cent of Nigeria land don dey affected by degradation, with serious consequences for agriculture, pastoralism and rural communities.

Di minister call for more emphasis on proactive drought management through early warning systems, national drought plans, anticipatory action and better water security.
E say Nigeria and oda countries must move from responding to drought afta e don happen to anticipating and preparing for im effects.

"COP17 must therefore be a COP of implementation. We must move from words to action, from commitments to delivery, and from ambition to measurable results wey go improve di lives and livelihoods of our people," e tok.