Toshia, Nigeria – In a remote corner of Nigeria’s northeastern state of Yobe, lie communities surrounded by vast sand dunes stretching as far as the eye can see. In recent years, the desert has been coming closer to these communities, a development that continues to affect the lives of people there.
Toshia town in the Yunusari local government area, close to the border with Niger, is one such community. Rides to the town involve old, crowded four-wheel-drive vehicles, with passengers squeezed into every available space, including the rooftop, bouncing around as the vehicle navigates the soft sand.Bulama Mele’s parents had to start farming in Niger when he was a small child due to desert encroachment. He claims the village is surrounded by the desert on all sides, is currently 40 years old, and is the father of eight children. Having lost both of his fields in Toshia to the desert, he now makes the arduous trek to manage his farm in Niger. In addition to making commuting difficult, the desert has had a big impact on living circumstances. As the environmental issue continues to deplete dozens of farms and cause food shortages in specific areas, others have also suffered significant losses. The village chief, Maigari Isa Bukar, together with his siblings and father, lost up to ten fields due to the approaching desert. Moreover, Bukar, like his father,
