Nigeria and Tunisia are to collaborate in an effort to fight desertification in Nigeria especially among the states in the northern parts of Nigeria.At a sensitization workshop on the utilization of Cactus opuntia to combat desertification held in Abuja, the Ambassador of Tunisia to Nigeria Mr. Moncef Gouja, said the partnership is to further build on previous agreements between Nigeria and Tunisia on how best to fight the menace of desertification which has continued to cause more loss of land in Nigeria.

He said "the cheapest source of fighting desertification is Cactus and is a feed for all kinds of animals, Cactus is now an exotic fruit and can be grown for export."

The workshop according to Gouja, is to seek out ways of making partnership with private sector on the execution of the project in Nigeria by next month.

He said a private company based in Nigeria Interact Safety Systems limited, has already been given the contract of executing the project starting next month.

The Minister of Environment John Odey also expresses optimism that the project would bring relief to fight against desertification in Nigeria.

The Project Director of Interact System Simon Naotm spoke on the many benefits of planting Cactus as a desert reducing plant said the plant to include food for man and animals and as an industrial raw material for cosmetics and for medicinal uses.