From SA’ADATU MAINA, Damaturu
Three million seedlings have been procured by the Yobe State Government and in conjunction with Tikau Emirate of the state is set roll back rapidly encroaching desertification in the state.
Announcing the fight on Monday to mark the 2019 World Day to Combat Desertification at Sabon Garin Nangere, Governor Mai Mala Buni, represented by the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Baba Malam Wali, said: “Government agencies charged with responsibilities of protecting the environment to continue embark on massive grass-root sensitization, monitoring and supervision against illegal and discriminate tree felling.
“The Environmental Laws on tree felling and fire wood and charcoal businesses in the state should be enforced to achieve the Great Green Wall…this includes Oasis Development and Forests Reserves in north and south parts of this state.”
The governor disclosed that the state is geographically located on a fragile ecological zone that is most often prone to threat posed by desertification. He lamented that 11 of the 17 councils, have been taken over by desert encroachment across the northern part of Yobe.
According to him, there is need to protect and preserve the environment from the devastating effects of desert encroachment. He said that desertification, has various forms of ecological degradation, including drought and gully erosion. He maintained that the compelling need to protect the environment and conserve the depleting forest resources is basically a necessity to halt the spread of desertification.
“About six decades ago, there was enough vegetation which covered wide areas in almost all parts of Yobe,” he noted.
In his speech, the Emir of Tikau, Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Ibn Grema, disclosed that “desertification has encroached into 11 local government areas -Nangere, Geidam, Yunusari, Yusufari. Others are Machina, Karasuwa, Jakusko, Tarmuwa, Fune, Bursari and Bade, 185 kilometers, north of Damaturu, the state capital.
Lawan, Buni visit flood victims in Yobe, promise government’s intervention
Meanwhile, Governor Buni has, together with the president of the senate, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, visited victims of flood disaster in the state on Tuesday and promised prompt government’s intervention to reduce their plight as well as ensure that a road is constructed to allow economic and agricultural activities in the area.
The disclosure was made at Tagali District in Bade local government council where 13 communities were affected.
The governor said already the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has been directed to provide the immediate needs of all flood victims in the state.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary SEMA, Dr. Mohammed Goje, informed the governor that so far the flood disaster had claimed four lives in the state as a result of collapse of buildings.
Goje, further said his team are on the fields delivering food and non food items to the victims across the state.
The senate President had earlier donated N10 million to fire and flood victims across his constituency of Yobe north and promises more interventions.
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