The Vice President (VP) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FGN), Kashim Shettima has revealed that the Federal Government plans to plant 20 billion trees in the next rainy season as part of its national reforestation and environmental sustainability drive.

Shettima made the announcement after touring multiple agricultural and industrial facilities in Ethiopia, where he witnessed the country’s Green Legacy Initiative, an inspiration from Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative.

The VP described the initiative as a win-win for all, combining environmental restoration with job creation.

“Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme is a model for combining climate action with economic opportunity,” Shettima said.

“It requires a lot of planning, energy, and drive, which Ethiopia was able to galvanize its population into doing.

Shettima praised Ethiopia’s success story, saying it was a pathfinder for Africa’s renaissance. “If Nigeria and Ethiopia work, Africa will work. Jointly, the two of us constitute over 350 million people, more than the population of the United States,” he said.

The Vice President also commended Ethiopia’s achievement in wheat self-sufficiency, which has transformed the country from importing $1 billion worth of wheat annually to now exporting to neighboring countries.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, said President Bola Tinubu is committed to replicating Ethiopia’s agricultural transformation model in Nigeria.

“President Bola Tinubu has a whole lot of respect for the people of Ethiopia. Why we came here is to understudy what we have seen and report back to him,” Uzoma said.

Uzoma added that Nigeria is pursuing economic diversification strategies to reduce its dependence on oil revenues through expanded agricultural exports, including avocado, pineapple, mango, cashew, and cocoa.