Mallam visits Zamfara for great green wall environmental sensitization.

Report from Federal Ministry of Environment.

The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurencia Mallam was in Gusau the Zamfara State Capital recently for a massive environmental sensitization campaign aimed at instilling the culture of tree planting in the people; use of alternative sources of energy; deployment of local efforts for checking gully erosion as well as mobilizing community
efforts towards the successful implementation of the Great Green Wall Project.

Mallam, while addressing newsmen at the event, appealed to the Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Abdulazeez Abubakar Shetima to support the Government of President Goodluck Jonathan in its efforts at tackling erosion and desertification challenges ravaging Zamfara State as well as sensitize the people towards taking ownership of the Great Green Wall Project which Government is implementing across eleven (11) frontline states in Northern Nigeria.

The Minister also condoled with the Governor and His Royal Highness, the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Kabir Muhammad Danbaba over the devastating wind that ravaged some parts of the State, displacing over 200,000 people as well as destroying properties worth hundreds of millions.

The Governor commended the Federal Government in its efforts at implementing the Great Green Wall Project and desertification in the Northern parts of the Country.
He advised that the Federal Government should take a clue from what the Government of Isreal has done in the Middle East, turning a desert into a completely green and viable economic zone.

Dr. Shettima called on all his counterparts in the 11 frontline States to make the Great Green Wall a compulsory priority.
Citing the example of the Bakolori Irrigation dam, the Governor said, the dam was designed to last for over 120 years, but within 40 years, the facility has deteriorated. He added that the estimated cost of rehabilitation is ten times the original cost for which the dam was constructed.

The Governor announced that over 500 youths are already being engaged in tree planting, lamenting however, that tree felling still constitutes one of the major impediments towards afforestation of the State.

He tasked the Federal Government to take the lead in checking desertification and desert encroachment for other African countries to follow.
The Minister of Environment also visited some parts of the State capital ravaged by rainstorm, which displaced over 200,000 persons.
While addressing members of the community affected by the storm, the Minister promised to take the message of their plight to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) with a view to getting the Federal body to provide the much needed relief to affected persons.

The Minister planted a symbolic tree in the affected community at the Islamic Propagation Centre, with a clear message, that the people should imbibe the habit of tree planting which will serve as windbreakers to reduce the effect of the ravaging wind.

Mallam also appealed to all residents of Zamfara State to refrain from cutting down trees, adding that whenever it is inevitable for them to do so, they should plant 5 trees for every tree cut.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Gov. of Zamfara State, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Wakala, informed the gathering that tree planting is part and parcel of the religious faith, maintaining that Allah has commanded that “Even if you know that you are going to die, plant a tree and Allah will reward you.”

The Deputy Governor said, the exalted Prophet Mohammed advised Muslims “Not to kill a woman, not to kill a child and Not to cut down a tree.’’

The Minister commissioned the environment-model village in Tofa village, Zamfara State, constructed by Ecological fund and handed over same to the Government of Zamfara State, with the promise of ensuring that similar facilities will be provided in Sokoto and Kebbi States.

Also at the environment-model village in Tofa Community in Zamfara State, the Minister distributed over 500 cooking stoves and solar energy cooking pots as parts of strategies aimed at discouraging the felling of trees.

The Zamfara State Commissioner for Environment promised the Minister, that the facility will be run judiciously, for the benefit of the entire Tofa community.
The centre is to serve as an environment training facility as well as the spring fountain for environment related projects in the State.