Segun Babatunde in Bauchi
Bauchi state government on Saturday tasked people of the state on the need to embark on massive tree planting in a bid to curb desertification and other environmental challenges in the state.
The State Commissioner for Environment and Housing, Hon Hamisu Muazu Shira gave the advice at the launching of tree planting campaign in Sabon Kaura, Bauchi metropolis.
Hon Shira while launching the planting of the five hundred units of trees in the area, reaffirmed the readiness of the Ministry and BASEPA in particular in supporting communities to engage in such exercise.
He said the state government will assist people of the state with seedlings and other facilities in order to encourage tree planting to ensure conducive environment for people to live.
“We are willing to provide seedlings to people in all the senatorial zones to fight desertification and other environmental issues. We have so many plans for our environment to be safe of all of us.”
The Environment and Housing Commissioner who applauded communities of Sabon Kaura for engaging in cleaning of their environment especially drainages, called on other communities to emulate.
” We are here to appreciate this community for embarking on cleaning of their drainages out of an appropriation of what government done to them. I want to call on other communities where roads are being constructed to emulate this gesture to keep the environment healthy and conducive environment for people to live.”
Shira who alongside DG BASEPA inspected the conduct of this month environmental sanitation exercise, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance by the residents of Bauchi metropolis.
In a remark, the Director General, Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), Dr Ibrahim Kabir said tree planting is among the new initiatives of BASEPA and it has reached all the stakeholders to ensure the set objectives are achieved.
“It is very encouraging the level of commitment of people of this area to environmental protection, we are happy with this and we are ready to support you.”
Earlier, the District Head of Miri, Malam Husaini Abubakar Othman, said the communities of Sabon Kaura has embarked on cleanliness of their environment in appreciation for the road project provided in the area by the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed.
Malam Husaini Abubakar appreciated the governor for the gesture and pledged toj safeguard the road from collapse through various community initiatives. END