Gov Yari urges FG to intensify efforts against desertification

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar of Zamfara state has called on the federal government to intensify efforts in battle against desertification that is fast destroying some local government areas of the state.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner Ministry of Environment, Mukhtar Lugga, made the call at the opening ceremony of a one day workshop on Environmental Regulations in the Great green wall Region which was organised by the Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency [NESREA] in Gusau, the state capital.

He stressed the need for the establishment of NESREA branch office in the State in order to benefit from the 16 billion naira set aside by the federal government aimed at fighting environmental hazard across the country.

Yari described the incidences surrounding desertification in the state and other affected counterparts as burning issues that need proactive measures to end land mass that is currently threatened by the disaster.

“We are doing our best in the state to ensure that desertification is curbed and therefore, we are ready to provide all what is required for the establishment of NESREA in the state, to support us in our fight against desert encroachment. We will provide the agency office and other logistics to make it functional in our state,” he assured.

Earlier, the Director-General/ CEO, NESREA Dr. Ngeri S. Benebo who was also represented by the Deputy Director of the agency, Strategic Alliance and Partnership, Mr Dutse Salka, pronounced that the Great Green Wall [GGW] concept is a programme aimed at combating desertification in 46 local government areas across 11 frontline states comprising Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.

“It has been estimated that between 50 – 70 percent of the people of these states are adversely affected by drought and desertification.

Considering formidable amount of threat of the disaster on the vast land of about 397,222 square kilometers out of Nigeria’s total land mass and the economic, agricultural and industrial potentials of these frontline states, there is high need of call to combat this environment menace,” she emphasized.