Ecological Devastation: Jigawa desilts 72Km, Embarks on 5.5m Trees Planting

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

Governor Umar Namadi of
Jigawa state has disclosed that his administration has desilted 72 kilometers along Hadejia River Channel to ensure smooth flow of the river to mitigate against flood dusaster in the rainy season.

The Governor made the disclosure in a speech delivered at the 2024 Tree Planting Campaign at Andaza village, in Kiyawa local government area.

He said under the project all the typha grass and other blockages in the river have been cleared from Gagiya in Guri Local Government to Wacakal in Yobe State.

Namadi also stated that the government has constructed 72 kilometers embankment as an effort to mitigate the effects of ecological problems at the flash points predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

According to him “As parts of efforts to safeguard the environment, we have in the last one year, constructed about 20 kilometers of drainages and reclaimed 72 kilometers of eroded areas in several affected villages and towns across the 27 Local Government Areas of the State.
“Most of these have been completed and a few are nearing completion. In areas of flood mitigation, we have desilted 72 kilometers along Hadejia River Channel from Gagiya in Guri Local Government to Wacakal in Yobe State”.

He noted that the gathering is to witness the flag-off of the 2024 year Tree Planting Campaign and Distribution of 5.5 Millon Tree Seedlings produced as part of the crusade against desertification, deforestation and other forms of environmental degradation that occur primarily due to inadequate forest cover.

The governor maintained that human interference with the natural environment has continued to wreck havoc with devasting consequences on environmental sustainability, loss of the environmental flora and fauna as well as loss of sustainable means of livelihood for the people.

Namadi added that the phenomenon of desertification, and gradual loss of the forest reserves have continued to raise grave concerns for environmental sustainability with negative consequences on sustainable livelihood for most of our citizens.

“One of the commitments I made to the people of Jigawa State during my inauguration as governor of the Sate was to reinvigorate and expand ongoing programmes including the production of 2.5 million tree seedlings annually for distribution to the citizens, public sensitization on tree planting, deforestation, and general environmental protection.
“I am really delighted that the 2024 Tree Planting Campaign is very unique as it glaringly demonstrates our commitment to the delivery of our promise”.

He also said that “While flagging off of the tree planting campaign earlier than we used to do it gladdens my heart that today, we are also commencing the distribution of over 5.5 million assorted seedlings produced in our nurseries across the 27 LGAs in the state”.

“Let me at this stage express our sincere gratitude to the World-Bank Assisted ACReSAL Project for complementing the efforts of the State Government in trying to build environmental resilience and significantly improve on the greenery of our environment.
“In the same vein, I would also like to express our appreciation to the Great Green Wall (GGW) Project in Jigawa State with whom we are partnering to protect and safeguard the Environment”.

‘I am aware that the Great Green Wall Project is also establishing shelter belts, woodlots and orchards across the frontline Local Governments in the State which will go a long way in complimenting the efforts of the State Government”.