Bauchi State state government joins Great Green Wall project advocacy on Mass Tree Planting.
By Umar Sani Yakubu
Bauchi State Government has expressed commitment to greening the state towards arresting desertification and other environment-threatening issues.
The governor of Bauchi state, Bala Muhammad stated this at the lunch of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, NAGGW Day in the state.
Represented by the Secretary to the state government, Ibrahim Kashim, the governor said the stae government will continue to partner with donor agencies to secure the state.
He called on the public to plant trees, “must understand that wherever there is no tree in a place, the place is not conducive for leaving. The place will be threatened by draught, desertification and lack of oxygen. And the temperature of the place will be hot. So we must all contribute by planting trees.”
Earlier speaking, the head, of reform coordination and service impovement, of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, Tali Andoon Nancy stated that 13th of July every year is set aside to celebrate the day with tree-planting activities.
She noted that Bauchi State is among the eleven frontline states affected by desertification as such efforts must be doubled to arrest its effect in the state.
According to her, planting trees will check degradation, desertification, drought and floods.
Tali Andoon hinted that the choice of secondary schools for campaign and donation of seedlings is to instill a love for nature in the students’ minds.
“we need to involve the youth especially students because they are our future of tomorrow. By the time we start with them, what we didn’t know when we are at there age, they will know it and even extend it to generation to come. Starting with children is a way to build a greater and greener Nigeria.”
On her part, the Bauchi state field officer for the agency, Hadiza Muhammad said this year is the first the agency is celebrating the day, calling on the public to key into tree planting to have a sustainable environment.
Some students from Dolphin Maria College, a school that benefited from seedlings donations Maryam Muhammad Galadima and Abdulhamid Salihu Hamideen expressed delight for the gesture and equally promised to plant them to protect the environment.
“We are happy to welcome the representative of the Great Green Wall in our school. And we equally hope to plant and nurture our trees.”
The campaign and planting of trees were extended to the Bauchi state government house, state ministries of environment and housing, and Emir of Bauchi palace.
