Chima Azubuike As part of efforts to control desertification, the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, unveiled the state’s 2024 tree-planting exercise with 10 million assorted seedlings. The largest tree-planting campaign in Nigeria’s history was kicked off in a ceremony at Kawuri village in Konduga Local Government Area of the state. Addressing the gathering, Zulum noted that in addition to planting trees, his administration had unveiled several initiatives to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
He listed the initiatives as including the procurement of electric vehicles and gas cylinders for distribution to deserving communities. The governor said he had also established an agency for the Great Green Wall to address problems of desertification and maintain the ecosystem. He assured of his administration’s commitment to protecting Borno’s degrading environment which, he noted, had resulted in low rainfall.
Zulum while sounding a strong warning against cutting down trees in Borno, directed the Secretary to the Government of the state, to work with the state House of Assembly to develop measures that would address the flaws in the existing law on the environment. Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment, Engineer. Emet Kiose, appealed to Non-Governmental Organisations, clubs, associations and the general public to collect assorted seedlings from the ministry for planting.
Meanwhile, the National Agency for the Great Green Wall described Zulum as an .