The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has embarked on the planting of 10,000 variety of trees on its two campuses at Afaka and Ribadu areas of Kaduna to tackle desertification.
The planting of trees, tagged: “NDA Green Project’’, was inaugurated by the Commandant of NDA, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham on Friday, June 19, 2020 to tackle desert encroachment.
“One of the challenges we are facing in sub-Saharan Africa is the rapid desertification of land and one of the key ways of stopping encroachment and desertification is by planting trees.
“I do know the great green wall project is still on, but in our own little way, we must ensure that in 10, 20 or more years to come, we still have a secure and healthy environment,” Sarham said.
He explained that the idea of the green project was borne out of the desire to have a secured and healthy environment.
Sarham noted that the training of cadets on land which sometimes hampers on trees also called for planting of more trees.
He disclosed that the exercise would be sustained in the two campuses with a view to having a conducive environment.
The NDA commandant added that the 10,000 tree seedlings were purchased from the College of Forestry.
He urged cadets, military and non-military staff of NDA to endeavour to nurture trees they planted.
The Federal Ministry of Environment recently promised to assist tthe NDA with over five million seedlings of various species, as part of efforts to meet President Muhammadu Buhari’s target of planting 25 million trees within 2020, to mitigate the effects of climate change in the country.
By Sani Idris
