From Dauda R PamMaiduguri.
The Federal Government has established the College of Forestry in Gwangolong village of Jere local government area of Borno state in its continued determination to combat the menace of desert encroachment and climate change.
Minister for Environment, Alhaji Mamoud Abubakar, declared this while on a courtesy call on Governor Babagana UMARA Zulum, Thursday, at the Government House, Maiduguri.
According to the minister, ” I am on a working visit to Borno state. We have a lot of presence in this state because of its strategic importance. We have agencies and departments that are working in the state, the Great Green Wall, Forestry Research Institute among others.”
He said ”the Great Green Wall has raised 1.3 million seedlings, planted 60 kilometers of shelter belt and 140km reserved among others”.
” Borno is one of the 11 Frontline states of Great Green Wall project, which is an international project consist of 11 countries. We have our newly established Forestry college in Borno, which is working on desert and desertification and environmental management. We are also here to find out the need of the state, what the state needs and how we can collaborate and strengthen them”, the minister said.
“We know the Borno state Governor have been working diligently in terms of environmental management in planting trees. We will continue to support him in planting more trees, we have planted more trees, we’re going to plant more. The Great Green Wall has planted over half a million trees in Borno state, we will do more, the GGW have raised 1.3 seedlings to support Borno..
Responding,Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, said “I want to notify the people of Borno state that the Federal government in it’s magnimity has established College of Forestry in Gwangolong village of Jere local government are here in Borno state.”
” You are aware of the arid nature of the state and I believe with the establishment of the College of Forestry, the people of Borno state will benefit a lot with a view to combating desertification and enhancing climate change in the state. I remain eternally grateful to the Federal Government”, The governor added.
He assured that the Borno state government under his leadership will collaborate with the Federal ministry of Environment, Great Green Wall and Forestry Research institute of Nigeria to see how possible to work together in safeguarding the environment, because environment is very important, stressing that ,without environment there would be no rain, and that the nexus between environment and development cannot be over-emphasized.
