The Niger State Government has emphasized the importance of planting and nurturing trees to foster a greener environment and build a climate-resilient economy.
The state Governor Muhammad Umar Bago, made the emphasis at the flag-off ceremony of ten tractors for reclaiming 100 hectares of land, drilling 100 boreholes across the 25 Local Government Areas, and empowering youths and women, organized by the Niger State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project.
Governor Umar Bago, represented by his Deputy, Yakubu Garba highlighted that the ACReSAL project, a World Bank-assisted initiative, underscores the state’s commitment to addressing environmental degradation and tackling the impact of climate change.
The Governor noted that the tractors, borehole projects, and empowerment programs are integral to the state government’s strategy for improving the resilience and livelihoods of rural communities, and securing a more habitable environment for every citizen.
The State Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, Raji Shehu Adam, disclosed that ten Local Government Areas will receive tractors in the initial phase, with an additional 15 tractors to be distributed to the remaining areas.
The State Coordinator who also stressed the allocation of the hundred boreholes across the twenty five Local Government Areas, explained the framework for the youth and women empowerment program.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Alhaji Yakubu Muhammad Kolo, reiterated the call for every resident to contribute by planting and nurturing trees to safeguard the environment.
The Vice Chancellor of Abdulkadir Kure University, Professor Aliyu Paiko, who received the tractors on behalf of the beneficiaries, assured the institution’s commitment to supporting the ACReSAL project by promoting green initiatives, reclaiming degraded lands, and planting crops such as banana and plantain.
The flag-off ceremony was attended by prominent government. officials, including the Speaker of the State Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji, the new Head of Service, Abubakar Sadiq Idris, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Abubakar Sadiq Yusuf, as well as Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries.
