Coordinator, Field Officer, National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Mrs Habiba Ibrahim, has urged communities in Kano State to continue to cooperate with officials of NAGGW and take ownership of projects.
Ibrahim made the call during the assessment of field investment by the agency, on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, in the state.
NAGGW officials visited two Local Government Areas, namely, Makoda and Danbatta, on the assessment of field investment.
Ibrahim said that Nigeria is one of the countries of great green wall initiative, faced with challenges of land degradation, drought, and climate change among others in 11 frontline states.
The coordinator said that the agency was established to prevent such challenges effectively.
She said that effective cooperation by the communities would continue to yield better result and safeguard the projects in the state.
“My advice to all the communities in the state is to continue engaging more in the good working relation with the officials of the agency.
“I am also advising them to engage more in town hall meetings, that will also enhance their work. I am soliciting for their cooperation for strong backing.
“We need all hands to be on deck. I want to let them know that this community belongs to them, it is where they live, the NAGGW is only coming to help, to make life better for them,” she said.
Ibrahim said that the agency had earlier visited some of the Local Government Areas in Katsina State on the field assessment, adding that Kano communities are doing better work compared to Katsina people.
She said that the Katsina’s setback could be because the field officer was newly redeployed in the state and is still trying to adjust.
She encouraged the two states to be more committed in delivering their duty.
“I rated Kano higher than Katsina but all the same, they are all doing wonderfully great, I pray in the next few months when we will visit the states again, there will be a lot of positive change.
“However, I feel so delighted seeing these trees growing well. Some of the trees were planted in 2015, others in 2020 and so on and you can see that there is a lot of progress.
“I want to thank both the Kano officials and the communities, because they are really committed to their job to ensure that the environment is protected,” she said.
Mr Isah Sadiq, Deputy Director, Department of Afforestation and Land Management of the agency, said that the trees planted were of different species, some are orchard and woodlots while others are shelter belts.
Sadiq said that the woodlots is the type of plantation used for firewood.
According to him, “we planted the trees so that the communities can be cutting them for cooking when it’s matured.
“When the trees mature, the branches can be cut off using them for firewood and other economic purposes.
“The community is committed, you see that the plantation is well established, in the next two years the trees will be matured and can be useful for the people to use.
“It is because we started the plantation early, we planted the trees during the rainy season and that is why the trees can survive.
He, however, advised the community to continue with the good work they are doing, adding that their efforts would enhance environmental protection in the state.
Mr Aminu Lawal, Field Officer of the state, said that the woodlots plantation is about 5,500 seedlings.
“Meanwhile, the community participation is part of the success, as the people were really engaged and committed with the job to ensure that the plantation is protected.
“The community cleared the lands, planted the tress and took ownership,” he said.
Mr Aminu Lawal, Forest Officer in the area, who spoke on behalf of others, called on government to construct boreholes for the communities.
“The only challenge we are having is the issue of water, we need water to support our people and animals.”
By Vivian Emoni
