The Zamfara State Government has planted 24,000 trees in some of its Local Government Areas as part of a campaign against desertification across the state.
Special Adviser to the State Governor on Directorate of Afforestation, Malam Mansur Khalifa-Kaura, disclosed this on Monday, July 30, 2018 in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau.
Khalifa-Kaura said that the campaign was part of the state government`s commitment to fight desert encroachment and other environmental challenges in the state.
“In the first phase, we planted 14,000 trees across the state, 1,000 trees were planted in one-kilometre distance in each of the 14 local government which cost the state government N10 million.
“In the second phase, we planted 10,000 trees in six selected local government areas in the state, in each of the selected LGAs we planted over 1,600 trees in two kilometres distance along the road side”
“This phase also cost the state another N10 million, making a total of N20 million for the whole projects,” he said.
He listed the six selected local government areas to include Bakura, Birnin-Magaji, Talata-Mafara, Shinkafi, Kaura-Namoda and Zurmi.
According to him, apart from combating desertification, the trees would also help in beautifying the environment. The state government, he added, would ensure the trees are protected.
He advised the people against indiscriminate tree falling to stop desertification and erosion challenges.
He, however, appealed to people of the state to assist the state government in the maintenance and protection of the trees.
