Gov. Bago launches Green Economy initiative in Niger

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Niger state governor, Mohammed Umar Bago has concluded plans to revive and build a sustainable economy in Niger State.
This is in a bid to mark the World Environment Day (WED) in a meeting with the consultants in green economy, to discuss his vision for championing green growth in the state.
The meeting reviewed the theme of this year’s WED celebration on plastic pollution and underscored the importance of the governor’s drive to lead the state on the road to sustainability.
Governor Bago in demonstrating his commitment set up a Niger State Committee on Green Economy to help develop a blueprint and an implementation framework for a green economy, chaired by Prof. M. T. Usman.
Meanwhile, the Committee is to come up with modalities that would enable the State to leverage its carbon credentials to spur development that is sustainable.
He reiterated his determination to personally lead the campaign to plant millions of trees across Niger State towards accomplishing global sustainable development goals, Nigeria’s climate targets, African Union Agenda 2063, One Billion Trees for Africa vision, and the Great Green Wall.
The Governor emphasized the place of Niger State as the largest sub-national entity in Nigeria, with a land mass of 76,363km2, and blessed with arable land, an abundance of water bodies, and labour, which can be catalysed into massive opportunities for youth employment and green economic growth.
He announced his intention to host the first-ever Green Summit to mark his first 100 days in office and challenged the Committee to work towards actualizing it.