The desertification of the Sahel, including of Nigeria, is a serious problem that needs to be adressed and taken seriously. In the 1970s as you all know, there was a severe drought throughout the Sahel that caused multiple famines and migrations. The underlying story of this tragedy is the abandonment of responsible agricultural practices, exacerbating the effects of global climate change. In 1980, Burkinabe elder Yacouba Sawadogo, from the northern regions of that country, discovered that creating depressions in the earth in which crops and wild plants would be planted minimizes water loss. At first, he was thought to be crazy and made fun of, however, he persevered and continued his project, adding additional improvements. Such improvements to the traditional methods he already knew include:

1. Lining zaï-dug areas with stones. These along with the wild vegetation and crops trapped sediment that would've washed eventually into a major river such as the Volta and lost. This also conserved water since it keeps the water in one place to soak up more successfully in the soil.
2. Filling the enlarged zaï holes with manure, thus providing nutrients to everything planted in the hole
3. Inviting termites to the holes. By finding termite mounds and leading termites to his depressions, the termites worked the soil and manure in order to break it up, thus providing a natural irrigation system that needs not to draw from the rivers of the area.
4. Planting indigenous wild plants. The wild plants he introduced into some (if not most) holes create shade, provide shelter for both wildlife and people, instill feelings of relief that the land is green again (and thus create more peace), retain future water and soil, and also can serve as a backup food and firewood source in case other sources fail.

Through awareness with village meetings held for people all over the Sahel, the Zaï technique will slow drastically the desertification process, and in turn produce an era of plenty and peace for this region of Africa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSTV-KcAd_0

Here are pictures of the progress. The map shows the effects of adopting Zaï around a village in the Niger Republic.