Niger State government has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving a green and sustainable environment through tree planting.
Governor Muhammad Umar Bago emphasized this commitment at an event organized by the Nigerian Environmental Society, Niger State Chapter, in collaboration with the Ministry for Environment and Climate Change and the Regional Center of Expertise, RCE, to mark World Environment Day 2024.
Governor Muhammad Umar Bago, represented by the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Alhaji Yakubu Muhammad Kolo, emphasized that the state government has mandated every household to plant at least four trees, explaining that the Ministry has produced about five hundred thousand tree seedlings to be planted across the state.
Alhaji Yakubu Muhammad Kolo who said government also plans to enact laws preventing domestic animals from roaming on major roads in the town mentioned state government initiatives, including the inaugural Green Economy Summit, the enforcement of a task force to combat illegal tree felling for charcoal, firewood, and logging, and the establishment of the Green Economy Agency.
“The Green Economy Agency has been established and approved by the Council which will soon take off. And we are also partnering with international and National Consultants to lead and advise the state on all these initiatives”. Alhaji Yakubu Muhammad Kolo added.
The keynote speaker and Founder of RCE, Sheikh Nuruddeen Lemu, who discussed “Restoring Ecosystem Diversity: A Critical Approach to Reclaiming Endangered Indigenous Trees in Niger State,” lamented that while people benefit from the environment, they make little effort to preserve it.
He advised the public to start planting trees between June and July and encouraged planting trees in areas where people do not frequent, such as roadsides.
According to him: “Everybody who owns land should try and make sure they reduce the budget of cutting grass by putting money through tree planting, the more trees you have , the more shades it produces, the more shades the less grass you have to worry about. So, in the long time you are actually killing a couple of birds with one stone. You have a tree that beautifies the environment positively impact on the macro climate while at the same time controlling grass.”
Chairman of the Niger State Chapter of the Nigerian Environmental Society, Dr Yahaya Saidu Madaki, stated that the Society is collaborating with relevant stakeholders, including the Niger State Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, and HYPPADEC, to ensure environmental conservation.
Dr Yahaya Saidu Madaki stated; ” We want to reclaim our Ecosystem by planting trees, by allowing other biodiversities to survive and not falling down trees.”
Permanent Secretary of the Niger State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Dr Idris Usman Bogan explained the Ministry about 200 seedlings, which includes mango, Guava, cashew among others were symbolically planted around the event venue and distributed to schools that attended the event.
Highlights of the event were goodwill messages from relevant stakeholders across various ministries, departments, and agencies, panel sessions featuring discussions on effective conservation strategies for endangered plant species in Niger State, and harnessing sustainable agriculture practices for the conservation of endangered plant species, among others.
