By:Monday Danladi, Bauchi
As Bauchi State begins another journey of 50 years, the State Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has stressed the importance of tree planting to mark the Golden Jubilee of the State in a much unique manner that will write an indelible mark in the memories of those who witnessed the celebration.
He therefore urge residents of the State to ensure that they did not only plant the commemorative tree but nurture such trees to maturity as a testament to those who are coming behind.
The Governor was speaking on Tuesday, during the official flagging off of the Bauchi State at 50 commemorative trees planting exercise held at Bauchi Golden Jubilee Park in the state capital.
Bala Mohammed explained that the initiative was to address environmental challenges threatening livelihoods and public health across communities in the state.
The Governor, alongside his Deputy, Rt Hon Mohammed Auwal Jatau, Speaker of the House Assembly, Rt Hon Abubakar Y Suleiman, and his Members, Emirs, Religious leaders, First Lady, Aisha Bala Mohammed, some invited Guests and other top Government Officials, took time out to participate in the tree planting campaign, either representing past Governors, Military Administrators or on their own.
Bala Mohammed who stressed the significance of tree planting exercise, maintained that trees play critical roles in combating desertification, flooding and climate impacts, while supporting biodiversity and long term sustainable development across Bauchi State.
The Governor said that the Fifty Trees planted signified the Fifty years of the State since its creation in 1976 stressing that such gestures have been replicated in the Twenty LGAs of the State.
Bala Mohammed however read a riot act, warning all those involved in illegal felling of trees using them for charcoal to desist as government will not treat anyone caught with kid gloves.
While also warning against indiscriminate cutting of trees for commercial purposes, Governor Bala Mohammed stated that the government will not condone such unpatriotic acts undermining conservation laws and community wellbeing across.
He rather encouraged residents to plant at least one tree to complement his administration’s ongoing effort to plant five million trees across the twenty local government areas of the state.
He said that his administration has for a long time, strengthened the State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) through the Ministry of Housing and Environment, to ensure that every tree planted, survived.
The Governor further noted that in collaboration with Agro Climatic Resilience in Semi Arid Landscapes, (ACReSAL), the state government has established twenty tree nurseries across all local governments as environmental protection strategies aimed at supporting reforestation and jobs creation.
The Governor used the medium to call on people of the State to continue supporting government policies and programmes for continuation of growth and development across all facets.
Speaking on behalf of traditional institutions, the Emir of Bauchi and Chairman, State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu, urged citizens, institutions and partners to sustain environmental stewardship towards achieving a greener and safer environment through collective action.
The Emir assured that all the traditional rulers in the State will ensure the protection of the environment by ensuring that the trees in the forests across the State were protected from illegal felling.
Leave a Comment