By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has approved the cutting off of a few trees that have died and constituting danger to people along the Adamu Jumba road within the metropolis.
The Ministry of Housing and Environment, on Monday, flagged off the feeling of the dead trees on the directive of the Governor.
The exercise was flagged off by the Commissioner in charge of the Ministry, Rt Hon Danlami Ahmed Kawule, supported by the officials of the Ministry, particularly, those attached to the Forestry Department.
While flagging off the exercise, the Commissioner said that it became necessary and expedient to take the action in order to save innocent lives that are using the road.
According to him, “We discovered that some of the trees are dead and dried up, therefore, their remaining standing is posing a great danger to those playing the road especially at this rainy season.”
He added that, “Wind can pull them down and cause havoc to the people because as they are standing, they are constituting nuisance and danger to the people.”
He added that, “These trees are historical monuments to the existence of Bauchi State. Most of them are above 70 years, they were planted during the colonial era, when Bauchi was headquarters of the Province and Native Authority.”
The Commissioner added that, “We are saddened to cut off the the trees, even His Excellency, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, the Executive Governor was reluctant in giving his approval but we have to convince him to consent.”
“You know that in Bauchi State anyone caught felling a tree will go to jail, so we had to wait for the approval of the Governor before embarking of the exercise,”he added.
He explained that the affected trees had their roots cut off during the reconstruction of the road few years ago saying,”Our experts did everything possible to salvage them but it was not possible to do.”
According to him, “The trees were attacked by pests, terminates and fungi leading to their drying up and becoming dead. We will take down and reclaim the spots.”
He however assured that their will be replacement for the trees in line with the policy of the present administrator which prioritizes tree planting in order to mitigate climate change in the State.
He also pointed out that Government will not plant economic trees anywhere near the road because of the dangers attached to such as people, especially children will want to pluck the fruits thereby endangering lives.
The Commissioner assured that every point where the trees will be cut, will be redesigned and well decorated in order to keep the memory of the trees in the minds of the people.
Danlami Ahmed Kawule then appealed to road users along the road to exercise patience and cooperate with the workers while the exercise lasts assuring that it will be completed within a short period.
It will be recalled that few years ago, whirlwind fell a few of the trees, though no life was lost, properties within the area were damaged while traffic was obstructed for hours.
Flagging off the exercise
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