Africa: Exclusive - What Nigerian Delegates, African Group of Negotiators Will Demand At COP17

What the report says

Nigeria and other African countries are expected to coordinate their position at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, or COP17, which is set for Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17 to 28 August 2026. According to Premium Times, Nigerian officials said the African Group of Negotiators will seek a legally binding framework on drought management and stronger financing for efforts to address desertification, land degradation and drought.

The report quotes Etim William, director of the desertification, land degradation and drought management department at Nigeria’s environment ministry and the country’s UNCCD focal point. He said Nigeria supports the African bloc’s call for a drought protocol and will press for more international support to fund its national adaptation and land-restoration priorities. He also said the country would not negotiate outside the agreed African position. Premium Times said at least 60 Nigerian delegates are expected to attend.

The article places the discussions in a broader context of worsening land degradation across Africa and the wider world. It cites UNCCD figures indicating that roughly 11.96% of Africa’s land is degraded, while Nigeria reports about 23.41%, or 21.07 million hectares, as degraded. The report also notes that degraded rangelands and grazing routes in Nigeria have been linked by authorities to long-running farmer-herder tensions. The UNCCD says COP17 will focus on practical, investable solutions for restoring land, improving drought resilience and supporting livelihoods in dryland areas.