By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
The effects of climate change occasioned by desertification progression may be nearing a thing of the past in the caliphate following the purposeful step that informed a strategic projection of planting no fewer than 500,000 trees by the Sokoto state government in the 2025 tree planting campaign.
Unveiling the campaign at the Sokoto New City , Kasarawa, Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto noted the consequences of the effects of desertification decrying it’s encroachment in the state.
He disclosed that the state government has taken deliberate steps to massively spread the planting of trees across the entire state.
Aliyu Sokoto stated that a number of environmental and economic trees’ seedlings were procured and distributed for the purpose.
Hitherto, in his resilience at ensuring collective commitment to the course, the governor fished out directives to LGs councils all local government councils to immediately commence planting of the trees upon allocations.
“Again, I call on you with dispassionate spirit to take the crusade to your communities to desist from indiscriminate tree felling as common cause of desertification”, he stressed noting that the practice was inimical to human and environmental safety.
While acknowledging that the state was within the Sahel region and vulnerable to desert encroachment, as we all know, is located in the Sahelian region, making it prone to desert encroachment with consequences to farmlands , the governor pointed out that replacements for tree felling where necessary must be ensured with proper nursing and protection to growth.
Aliyu Sokoto added “As Muslims, we know the position of our religion on the benefits of tree planting and the eternal reward attached to it. In fact, planting trees can be regarded as sadaqatul jariyya, which reward continues even after death.
Governor Aliyu who further urged people of the state to brace by rising to the challenge of addressing desertification and desert encroachment by encouraging aforestation , commended the laudable efforts of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (GGW) for providing 450,000 date seedlings to the State to stem efforts at combating the challenge as well supporting food security desire of the state government as he disclosed that seedlings would be ready for collection at designated nursery centers in Gundunga (Kware LGA), Goronyo town (Goronyo LGA), and Sanyinna (Tambuwal LGA) within the shortest time target.
” The seedlings will be distributed to individuals, NGOs, government institutions, and public places such as markets, schools, mosques, and hospitals to ensure massive plantation across the state”, he explained while appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the Great Green Wall project initiative aimed at mitigating climate change, erosion, desert encroachment, and other environmental challenges in the country.
Speaking , the state Commissioner for Environment, Nura Shehu Tangaza, stressed that community participation was key to the success of the campaign.
” We are targeting to plant 500,000 seedlings this year . This will be piloted across all 23 LGs communities “, Tangaza said.
Also, Dr Saleh Abubakar, Director-General, National Agency for the Great Green Wall, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s land from desertification.
The DG , represented by Director of Aforestation of the agency said the GGW initiative spans across 11 African countries covering 11 states in Nigeria noting that Sokoto state remained committed to the success of the project in the state.
Earlier, the Chairman, Wamakko Local Government, Umar Ahmed, commended the governor for making his council as venue of the 2025 tree planting campaign assuring support for its success.
