The Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, on Saturday inaugurated a 4.5 million tree planting exercise to preserve the ecosystem and mitigate the effects of climate change in the state.
The exercise is being implemented by the state’s Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL) project.
Namadi explained that the annual campaign, inaugurated in Dutse, is one of his administration’s commitments to the people of the state to reinvigorate and expand ongoing environmental development and protection programmes.
Namadi said the event would be sustained with 4.5 million tree seedlings annually for distribution to citizens, alongside public sensitisation on tree planting and other initiatives focused on general environmental protection.
“Indeed, this is in line with our policy objectives aimed at promoting initiatives that are environmentally friendly, support environmental resilience and sustainability, contribute to the health of our planet, and support the provision of sustainable livelihoods for most of the people,” Namadi said.
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling environmental challenges facing the state, ranging from devastating perennial floods, degradation of precious lands, deforestation, and desertification, among others.
“It is our collective responsibility to fight and win the battle against all forms of environmental degradation.
“Our strategic plans for achieving this include mitigating the consequences of environmental mismanagement and ensuring sustainable means of livelihood for most of our citizens.
“Other aspects include overall governance of the environmental sector, review of environmental laws and policies, and the pursuit of strategies to achieve the Food and Agriculture Organization’s 20 per cent green cover target before 2030, In Sha Allah,” Namadi said.
He further pointed out that planting and nurturing trees is one of the best options for sustaining the environment, including improving the quality of the air humans breathe.
The governor also highlighted that while producing oxygen for all living organisms, trees also absorb carbon dioxide, thus serving as a means of ensuring symbiotic life between flora and fauna in the environment.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Nura Ibrahim, urged residents to actively participate in the exercise and post-planting care to ensure the survival and growth of the planted seedlings.
Ibrahim also urged traditional and religious institutions, communities, NGOs, CBOs, and CSOs to embrace tree planting as a regular activity for a sustainable future.
Also, the ACReSAL Project Coordinator in the state, Alhaji Yahaya Muhammad, appreciated all stakeholders for their active participation in the exercise.
“As we witness this tree planting today, may the trees serve as living symbols of our shared responsibilities towards environmental protection and sustainable development,” Muhammad prayed.