Writing By Ismai’l Adamu, Editing By Godwin Duru
National Agency for the Great Green Wall says it will plant five million exotic date palm trees across eleven states of the Sahel rebelt of Nigeria to check desert encroachment.
The Director General of the agency, Mr. Saleh Abubakar, disclosed this when he paid homage to the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar, at his palace in Daura to notify him of the plan to commence the tree plantation project.
He listed the states where the shelter belts will cut across which are Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, Kano, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Adawama and Gombe states.
Mr. Abubakar attributed desert encroachment in the states to indiscriminate felling of trees that could worsen unless serious measures are taken to reverse it.
“We have come out to visit eleven states where we operate and Katsina states is one of them, and we particularly know that the Emir of Daura is a very important figure in this regard.
“We came to intimate him on the shelter belt we want to start planting within his Emirate, to solicit his support and involvement in mobilizing his people to give maximum cooperation to the project”, Abubakar said.
He explained that the agency will embark on this round of tree planting across the eleven states by making shelter belts along Nigeria’s borders with Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroun.
“We appealed to the Emir to help us to sensitize the people about the importance of tree planting and the need to be proactive so as to halt the encroachment of the Sahara desert into our states.
“It has adversely affected our farmlands, grazing areas, villages, towns and cities”, said Mr. Abubakar, warning that unless conscious efforts are taken to halt it, “it will continue to encroach into our states”
He pointed out that the date palm breed that will be planted in the shelter belts was selected due to its unique features as it germinates and produces wide branches and fruits within four years.
The NAGGW DG said about one million trees including date palm and other draught-resistant breeds will be planted on a large expanse of land along Maiadua and Zango Local Government Areas of Daura zone.
He appealed to the Emir of Daura and other political, traditional and religious leaders in the affected states to encourage their people to plant trees and avoid cutting them down.
In his remarks, the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar, said the Emirate council has for long been involved in tree planting and the enforcement of strict penalties against persons caught engaging in tree felling.
The Emir tasked his subject to take ownership of the agency’s tree planting project by guarding the date palm nurseries against vandals.
“In this Emirate, we have made it clear to our subjects that cutting down trees is considered as an act of terrorism, because trees preserve our farmlands and grazing areas, therefore trees directly affect food security.
“We still maintain, this stand, and the Emirate council will deal with anyone caught felling trees indiscriminately”, the Emir warned.
Isma’il Adamu
