DESERTIFICATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA: A STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF DESERTIFICATION ON YOBE STATE

Desertification just like other environmental phenomena has received worldwide attention from scholars and governments of the affected states. This may be because of the dangerous effect that this looming danger has had on various states and communities all over the world. Desertification among other things causes a high level of degradation to the soil making it unsuitable for the pursuit of agriculture, which happens to be the main occupation of most rural and semi-urban communities. Just like other states in Northern Nigeria, Yobe is one of the states that is greatly affected by the continued desertification of some parts of Nigeria. The state has witnessed some harmful aspects of desertification such as increased poverty, hunger, displacement of communities, and soil erosion. To show the importance and urgency of this subject matter, some authors have made a fine attempt at addressing the negative effects of desertification in Northern Nigeria. However, this paper will focus on the effects of desertification in Yobe State and how this has affected agricultural productivity. To effectively research the subject matter, the qualitative method of research will be used while relying on primary and secondary sources to provide data. The paper concluded that desertification is caused by both human and non-human factors like the rapid deforestation of trees, drought, decrease in the amount of rainfall etc. The paper suggests that the government and people of Yobe State should embrace safer agricultural practices that can preserve the fertility of the soil, and also pursue an aggressive policy of water management and preservation in the state.