ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi
Federal Polytechnic Damaturu on Friday flagged-off the planting of 10,000 trees to combat desertification and safeguard the environment.
Speaking at the occasion, the Rector of the institution, Dr Musa Kallamu, said the exercise was meant to address desertification and general climatic condition in the state.
He said the gesture was part of the three million trees planting campaign recently launched by Governor Mai Mala Buni.
“This occasion is about tree planting campaign which was launched by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, and the subsequent allocation of 10, 000 seedlings to the Federal Polytechnic Damaturu through the state’s ministry of environment,” Kallamu said.
He also said that the institution would nurture the trees to maturity, adding that management of the polytechnic had provided iron protectors to shield the trees.
In a remark, Alhaji Sidi Karasuwa, the State Commissioner for Environment noted that Yobe state was among the front-line states in Nigeria affected by desert encroachment.
“The state is located in semi-arid and arid environments, with very scanty vegetation cover and greater percentage of the population defend on firewood as their source of cooking energy.
“Due to these problems, Yobe state governor directed the Ministry of Environment to provide seedlings of assorted trees to address the issue,” he said.
Karasuwa called on the public to participate in the campaign, saying that environmental problem was everyone’s concern.
DISCLAIMER
The OPINION / COLUMN is authored by independent contributors to the National Accord Newspaper. While contributors adhere to our editorial guidelines, they are not employed by the National Accord Newspaper. The perspectives and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of the National Accord Newspaper or its staff.