Kano releases N22m to fight desert encroachment

In its bid to combat desert encroachment in the state, Kano state government has released the sum of N22,465,000 for the production of two million assorted seedlings which would be planted across the state.

This was made known yesterday by the state’s Commissioner of Environment, Hon. Ali Haruna Makoda, during the flag off ceremony of the project which took place at the ministry of environment Kano.

According to him, despite the fact that the state is blessed with about thirty three forests across, the state has lost significant amount number of trees to activities of some persons in the illegal business of falling threes to serve as fuel and other commercial activities.

“I must say that the state has been greatly exposed to desert encroachment as a result of falling trees randomly by some persons.

It is quite alarming looking at the extent of damage done to our natural environment, and the effects of this trend is so glaring.

The excruciating heat been experienced in the state as well as damage on our lands, are all results of such activities”

Makoda, said, the state government, after consulting experts in the area, set up 6 nursery centres across the 3 senatorial districts of the state which includes; Jekarade, Kafin Chiri, Audu Bako Secretarial, DFO, Mainika as well as Dorawar Sallau as centres where the seedlings would be produced for distribution.

The Commissioner attributed some of the challenges to the retirement of over one thousand forest guards in the state, but however, that the state government under Abdullahi Ganduje has employed the services of casual forest guards saddled with the responsibility of looking after the forests.

“Some of the problems we have been having is as a result of the retirement of our forest guards numbering over a thousand.

This development has exposed our forests to lots of dangers. But new efforts are been made as we now have causal guards who are expected to keep our tress safe”

Also, Haruna revealed that the Nigeria Erosion and Water Shed Management Project (NEWMAP) has reclaimed over three hundred hectares of degraded land through similar projects, calling on the general public and every stakeholder to join in the crusade against destruction of the forests.

Furthermore, he warned that anyone caught in the act of illegal falling of trees for whatever purpose would not be spared as the ministry and state government are ready to do all it takes to make the state habitable for its citizens, warning that, global warming is not a mere theory but real, and to be safe, the environment must be protected.