CITAD Plants 616 Trees in Northern Nigeria, Wants a Million

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has begun turning a bold pledge into living roots, planting 616 trees across Northern Nigeria in a campaign aimed at slowing climate change, desertification and environmental degradation in the region.

The organisation disclosed this on Wednesday at its first media briefing on the progress of its one-million-tree campaign, which was launched on September 2, 2026. The drive is focused on restoring degraded green areas, protecting indigenous tree species and rallying communities to act against the effects of a changing climate.

Not every tree counted so far has been confirmed. Of the 616 reportedly planted, 345 have been verified as planted and alive, while the rest await verification.

The campaign is gathering backing on the ground. CITAD said government agencies and communities in Kano, Jigawa and Bauchi states are increasingly supporting the effort. To widen the supply of native seedlings, it has set up four nurseries, in Kano, in Dutse in Jigawa State and in Jama’are in Bauchi State.

Supply, however, is already the biggest obstacle. CITAD said requests from communities and individuals have outstripped the seedlings it has available, leaving demand ahead of capacity.

The organisation therefore appealed to governments, development partners, philanthropists and private seedling producers to back the campaign with seedlings and funding. It also urged governments across Northern Nigeria to help protect and maintain the newly planted trees, including by providing the materials needed to shield young saplings while they take hold.