Ministry collaborates with SUBEB on tree planting in Bauchi
Trees
By Amina Ahmed
Bauchi, July 12, 2018(NAN) The Bauchi State Ministry for Environment has expressed its readiness to partner with Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to construct new new schools and tree planting within the school’s premises.
The Permanent Secretary of in the ministry, Mr Mohammed Umar, said this on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi.
Umar said that the ministry had engaged some contractors for the construction of the new schools.
He said the collaboration was to ensure that contractors who would handle construction of the schools plant trees, adding that the effort would reduce environmental challenges in school premises
He said the ministry was also discussing with the State Development Board to ensure that all proposed and submitted building plans included provision for planting trees before approval.
According to him, the need to engage in the collaboration cannot be emphasised because the indiscriminate falling of trees is becoming rampant in the state.
“The ministry is collaborating with SUBEB to include in their agreement that any contractors handling the construction of the new schools should plant trees as well.
“Also, building plans should also include provision for plantation of trees before it get approval that is the collaboration we are going into with the state development board.
“Activities of deforestation have permanently destroyed forests in the state and trees are source of income which includes, charcoal making, Timber, fuel and farming.
“For those who are involved in the activities of deforestation, plans are on-going to replace such activity with skill acquisitions as such will have a change in their source of income.
“The Great Green Wall project will also support the skill acquisitions programme to ensure that it is effective,’’ he said.
Umar also said that the ministry had embarked on planting umbrella trees in the state metropolis which would be extended across all the state.
He explained that umbrella tree was also known as Schefflera and consist of five to six leaves in each of the stems, adding that the leaves can be made as a fever medicine.
“The ministry is planting umbrella tree but some people are stealing the basket use as protection for the seedlings, thereby destroying government effort,’’ he said.
The permanent secretary, however, urged the people to desist from such act, adding that government was having better plan that would enhance development for the state. (NAN)
AE/VOE/TA
Edited by Vivian Emoni/Tajudeen Atitebi
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