CHUKS OYEMA-AZIKEN writes that stakeholders in Yobe State have begun to key into the Climate Change action plan recently unveiled by Governor Mai Mala Buni.
A study by Mohammed Galadima of Universiti Putra Malaysia and James Asu Nandi of Federal University, Kashere in 2016 noted that majority of residents in Yobe State had low awareness to climate change and submitted that climate change has affected their socio-economic and agricultural activities in recent years.
The study identified reduced crop yield, shortage of water and biomass for animals due to low rainfall, frequent dry spells, cold spells, strong winds and thunderstorms as some of the fallouts of climate change which has manifested in the state especially in terms of deforestation.
It is therefore with open arms the people have come to commend the state’s Climate Change Action Plan and planting of three million tree seedings recently launched by Governor Mai Mala Buni.
Yobe State Commissioner for Environment, Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa, who is enthusiastic about the action plan is hopeful it will lead to restoration of lost forest as tree planting activities intensify across the state.
According to Karasuwa “for we firmly believe that by the year 2024, a total of 323, 748, 51 hectares will be planted with the strategy put in place for the protection and management of these trees.
The action plan got a boost when the
Emir of Fika and Chairman, Yobe State Council of Traditional Rulers, Dr. Muhammad Ibn Abali Muhammadu Idrissa advised community leaders against unnecessary felling of trees.
The emir noted that there has been record of problems of serious land degradation through uncontrolled and senseless cutting of trees and destruction of natural vegetation.
He therefore applauded Governor Buni (Baraden Fika) afforestation strategy.
The emir said “To show our commitment in supporting this programme, we wish to state that in the first quarter of 2021, we shall embark on an Emirate-wide tour to assess the efforts of all our district heads towards this programme.
Also speaking on the action plan, an environmental expert, Mr Ula David, said “what Governor Mai Mala Buni is doing in the area of making the environment green should be emulated by all governors in the Northeast. In fact, all governors across the 36 states of the federation should take such a bold step. By so doing, all our trees which have fallen will be replaced and it will reduce deforestation and drought in many regions during the dry season.
The tree planting exercise to be launched in the 17 local governments in the state is expected to boost the economy of the state as the state government plans to plant 100 hectares of Gum Arabic and other assorted trees in each of the three senatorial districts while five selected primary schools in each of the seventeen local government areas are to establish one hectare plantation/orchard.
Of significance, is the involvement of the youths, agro-farmers and all strata of the society.
The youths are expected to ensure the success of the initiative and become beneficiaries and owners of the project for its sustainability for the long haul.
The commissioner said that 50 youth ambassadors in each of the 17 local government areas who will spread the Governor Buni Climate Change Action Plan across the state were also nominated
This will in no small measure tackle unemployment among the youths and reduce the lure for criminality.
The sustainability of the action plan is also enhanced as selected secondary schools under Teaching Services Board will establish one hectare plantation each, another five selected secondary schools under Science and Technical Education Board are to establish one hectare plantation each; even thousand assorted seedlings are to be provided to the 14 Emirate councils, 10 higher institutions in the state are to be given 100,000 assorted seedlings.
