Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 inaugurated 2019 Tree Planting campaign with the theme “Planting for Reclamation’’.
Mohammed, who inaugurated the campaign in Gadau, expressed regret that the state was facing environmental challenges such as drought, desertification, erosion and floods.
He said combined effects of the problems in the environment led to significant loss of agricultural lands, adding that it affected the sources of livelihood and general wellbeing of citizens.
He called for immediate and long-term practical solution to environmental challenges through aggressive and sustained planting of trees to address the situation.
“Trees are very important in controlling desert encroachment,” he said.
Mohammed assured that this year’s Tree Planting Campaign would not stop at planting trees only but would re-enforce public enlightenment, massive distribution of seedlings across the state and protection of existing forest estates.
He said the tree planting would henceforth be a continuous process as government would work tirelessly to ensure that necessary requirements were provided for the campaign.
Mohammed reiterated his administration’s determination to improve seedling production in all nurseries across the state.
“In addition to providing all working tools that will be needed to patrol and protect the environment from degradation and destruction.’’
According to him, as part of measures to ensure forest estates and environment are kept intact and better, all laws and regulations guiding the tree planting campaign will be reviewed to go in tandem with current environmental challenges.
The governor therefore directed the 20 local government caretaker chairmen to replicate the exercise in their respective councils.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Ahmed Zalanga, recalled that the campaign was an annual event set aside to enlighten citizens on the importance of planting trees as a solution to numerous environmental challenges facing the country.
He said in an effort by the administration toward combating desertification and other environmental challenges, the government announced the procurement of thousands of assorted seedlings for distribution across the three senatorial districts of the state.
