Borno to tackle desertification with 10 million trees

The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Tuesday unveiled the state’s 2024 tree-planting exercise with 10 million assorted seedlings aimed at controlling desertification in the state.

The largest tree-planting campaign in Nigeria’s history was kicked off in a ceremony at Kawuri village in Konduga Local Government Area of the state.

Addressing the gathering, Zulum noted that in addition to planting trees, his administration had unveiled several initiatives to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

He listed the initiatives as including the procurement of electric vehicles and gas cylinders for distribution to deserving communities.

The governor said he had also established an agency for the Great Green Wall to address problems of desertification and maintain the ecosystem.

He assured of his administration’s commitment to protecting Borno’s degrading environment which, he noted, had resulted in low rainfall.

Zulum while sounding a strong warning against cutting down trees in Borno, directed the Secretary to the Government of the state, to work with the state House of Assembly to develop measures that would address the flaws in the existing law on the environment.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment, Engineer. Emet Kiose, appealed to Non-Governmental Organisations, clubs, associations and the general public to collect assorted seedlings from the ministry for planting.

Meanwhile, the National Agency for the Great Green Wall described Zulum as an environmental champion, noting his administration’s significant achievements in addressing environmental issues.

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the NAGGW, Saleh Abubakar, represented by the agency’s Director of Planning and Policy Coordination, Hajiya Habiba Usman, stated this at Kawuri in Konduga Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.

“The agency is elated and happy to note that Born is the first state in the country to domesticate the GGW Act by establishing the state agency and appointing the pioneer Director General,” Abubakar acknowledged.

He added, “Thus, the NAGGW is glad to be part of the tree-planting campaign, as this not only complements the agency’s interventions, but also shows the Borno State Government’s commitment to addressing environmental challenges associated with land degradation and climate change.”