Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has flagged off the planting of 10 million trees to check desertification and environmental degradation.
According to him, the planting and nurturing of trees could also act as wind brakes and control soil erosion.
Launching the exercise yesterday in Kauwuri community, he disclosed that in addition to the campaign, his administration had launched several initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and environmental degradation.
Besides planting of trees, the governor added that the carbon reduction initiatives include procurement of electric vehicles and gas cylinders for distribution to deserving communities.
“The state government has established an agency for the Great Green Wall (GGW) to further halt desertification in the state,” he said.
Zulum observed that the move would facilitate the agency’s mandate to sustain the state’s fragile ecosystem.
He assured of his administration’s commitment to protecting the degrading environment which, he said, could result in drought and other risks associated with low yearly rainfalls.
The governor warned the residents against tree-felling and bush burning.
He, therefore, directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Tijjani Bukar, to work with the House of Assembly to develop measures to address the flaws in the existing law on the environment.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Environment, Emet Kiose, appealed to non-governmental organisations, clubs, associations and the public to collect assorted tree seedlings from the ministry for planting.
The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has, however, described Zulum as an environmental champion, noting his administration’s significant achievements in addressing environmental issues.
Its Director-General, Saleh Abubakar, represented by the Director of Planning and Policy Coordination, Habiba Usman said: “We’re elated and happy to note that the state is the first in the country to domesticate the GGW Act by establishing the state agency and appointing a pioneer Director General.”
