Nigeria to plant 35 million trees to curb desertification- Minister

The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor says the ministry is working hard to meet the target of planting 35 million trees to curb issues of desertification and other environmental challenges across the country.

The minister stated this while on inspection tour of wood lots under the Great Green Wall programme in Kano state North Western Nigeria..

The Great Green Wall is an African project aimed at planting trees on 8,000 kilometers land to tackle theeffects of the climate crisis and helping communities to survive and adapt.

The trees specifically are meant to protect the planet by absorbing carbon dioxide, a cause of the climate crisis.

The minister said since launching the project in Nigeria,  the ministry has been working hard to make  sure that it’s mandate in the area of the great green Wall is achieved.

She said their effort” towards ensuring that 35 million trees are planted across the country is aimed at fighting desertification, improving forest cover and livelihood of the people.”

 “Effort is being made to replicate the wood lots seen here in many parts of the country.” Said the Minister.

She said the ministry has introduced “a modern cooking technology which will substitute the traditional cutting down of trees for cooking which will reduce desertification.”

She commended the great green Wall for the job well done, urging the Communities” to protect the woodlots being planted In the plantation for the set objectives to be achieved”.

Director General of the Great green wall, Dr. Bukar Hassan at the woodlots project site in Tuna village in Makoda local government area, said the great green wall project is gradually” achieving its set objectives of reducing the effects of desertification in the Frontline states of the Sahel region.”

The Minister during the inspection commissioned a motorized borehole provided by the great green wall project, at Government Girls high school in Gabasawa. Local government Area of Kano State.

Ime N