Reclamation
By Mohammed Mamman
Yunusari (Yobe), May 3, 2018 (NAN) The Yunusari Local Government Area in Yobe, says it will partner the state’s Environmental Protection Committee to reclaim 75 per cent of land mass lost to desert encroachment.
Alhaji Yarima Lawan, Chairman of the council, made the disclosure on Thursday at the launching of the Special Environmental Protection programme in Yunusari.
The chairman, who was represented by Alhaji Goni Kadai, Speaker of the council, said desertification had claimed 75 per cent of the land mass of the local government area.
He said desertification in the area had forced farmers to reduce their agricultural activities.
He, therefore, appealed for establishment of shelter belts and provision of water sources to combat desert encroachment and promote agricultural production.
Malam Abubakar Aliyu, Yobe Deputy Governor, said government had designed a deliberate policy and programme to effectively combat environmental degradation.
Aliyu, who is also the Chairman, Yobe Environmental Protection Committee, vowed that the state would reclaim the soil fertility of the degraded area.
The deputy governor, who was represented by Alhaji Jibrin Kortomi, Commissioner for Environment, said the programme had been launched in all the 17 local government areas and the state’s 14 emirate councils.
He said traditional rulers were involved to check illegal felling of trees and other human activities that are inimical to the environment in their domains.
‘‘Desert encroachment, land degradation, and siltation of rivers had retarded agricultural activities with negative effects, thereby promoting poverty in the communities.
‘‘We have embarked on massive planting and nurturing of trees to protect the environment against wind storms, improve soil fertility and provide shelter for humans and animals,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yobe Government had earlier announced a price of N1,000 for every tree planted and nurtured for a period of one year. (NAN)
MM/MOL/MTM
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Tukur Muntari.
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