The Challenges Facing the Effective Implementation of Drought and Desertification Policy in North-East Geo-political Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examined the challenges around the effective implementation of strategies put in place by Nigerian government to combat the twin menace of drought and desertification the North-east geo-political zone of Nigeria. It then proffered solutions to the challenges as established from the survey carried out in the zone. The introduction to the subject under discuss reviewed the extent to which the twin phenomenon were ravaging the zone and efforts of government so far which has not yielded the expected results. The study adopted the survey design approach. Population of the study was the North-east geo-political zone of Nigeria comprising six states: Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe. Purposive sampling technique was used in the selection of sample size comprising of six local councils from Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe states; the reason being that they share common characteristics on the challenges of drought and desert encroachments. Cluster sampling technique was adopted in selection of 1,200 respondents of which 72.6% response rate was recorded. The research instrument used was a structured and validated questionnaire complemented by a structured interview schedule. The study finding the following challenges: Poor funding of government programs, Government field agents not managing the trees planted in other to productively achieve its set objective, citizens mismanagement of facilities put in place by government to curb the menace, indiscriminate falling of trees planted by government, sparse rain fall experienced in region. The study, thus recommended that to curb the challenges of implementation the following must be considered: citizen participation at the implementation stage of every project initiated by government to curb these menace. The public must be Educated government actions and strategies, An alternative to firewood for cocking in the zone must be provided, a special joint taskforce of federal, state and local are policing of the forests must be put in place as a matter of urgency to check the indiscriminate falling of the trees also effective monitoring and evaluation of the activities of government agents deplored to implement these strategies must be put in place.