Zaria – Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State says his administration is targeting to plant about 6 million seedlings in the next three years to check desert encroachment in the area.
He made this known on Thursday at 2016 Tree Planting Campaign organised by Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Zaria at the main campus of the institution, Samaru, Zaria.
El-Rufa’i, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Manzo Daniel, said that the state government had commenced planting of 1.8 million trees this year to effectively tackle desert encroachment.
“Our plan is to plant 1.8 million seedlings this year, only trees used to respective environment will be planted.
“We shall continue to plant not less than 1.5 million seedlings annually.
“Kaduna is really threatened environmentally, in view of the fact that most of the neighbouring states up North are already affected by desertification,” he said.
El-Rufa’i said the seedlings to be planted would be provided to people free of charge.
The governor said his administration would use the programme to create employment opportunities for over 30,000 unemployed youths who would be engaged in the exercise.
The governor promised to introduce forest policy to guard against incessant felling of trees across the state.
In his speech, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Giwa Bisi-Rodipe, lauded ABU for championing green environment initiative.
He described the institution as the leading green university not only in the North but also in the country.
Bisi-Rodipe, who is also the initiator of Private Forest Demonstration Plantation in Nigeria, said: “ABU is not located in forest environment zone, but it actually and holistically made its environment green.
“It is worthy to mention that ABU plants hundreds of thousands of trees annually in the institution, which of course made its environment green.”
Dr Habiba Muda-Lawal, Permanent Secretary, office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said that ecological fund had over the years been supportive to afforestation.
She was represented at the occasion by a Director in Ecological Funds, Alhaji Yusuf Aliyu.
Muda-Lawal advocated legislation to effectively deal with incessant felling of trees across the country.
Dr Nana Madugu, Director, Health Services of ABU, said that the future of humanity was at risk, if urgent action was not taken to maintain good environment.
She said that environmental changes led to the emergence of 100 diseases globally, hence the need for man to be cautious of such with a view to living a healthy life. (NAN)