Writing by ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU; Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
About 160,000 trees are to be planted by Kwara state government across the 16 local government areas of the state to reduce afforestation.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Hajiya Nafisat Musa Buge stated this while addressing newsmen at the 4th Quarter Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing, held Ilorin.
She said the project executed in collaboration with a development partner was unveiled at Ijagbo in Oyun local government area of the state.
The commissioner said the ministry has deployed 18 points strategies to sustain the “Cleaner Kwara” initiative, and prevent afforestation.
Hajiya Buge explained that the ministry had also extend visitations to eateries, shops and bakeries, to monitor compliance with the set standards of hygiene and protect the general wellbeing of the people in the State.
She said the level of compliance with movement restriction on monthly environmental sanitation day has improved tremendously.
The commissioner emphasized that the collaboration with the Federal Ministries of Environment and Innovation, Science and Technology, has enabled the Ministry organize training on climate change, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and sustainable energy solution in the State.
She commended the World Bank Assisted ‘Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACRESAL) project, for making the distribution of 193 motorcycles to Agricultural Extension workers/services and 3,000 Energy-Saving Cooking Stoves, a reality.
Hajiya Budge maintained that the state environmental task force has contributed greatly in addressing the menace of indiscriminate dumping of refuse and illegal activities of scavengers.
For her part, the state Commissioner for Communications, Mrs Bola Olukoju, commended the unrelenting efforts of the ministry in sustaining a ‘Cleaner Kwara’.