By Sunusi A Kofar Naisa
The Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Engr. Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari, says the State Assembly will give much emphasis and consideration for the speedy passage of the new bill on Watershed, Erosion and Climate Change Management Agency (WECCMA).
Rt. Hon. Engineer Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari stated this while declaring open a two-day retreat for the establishment of the Agency in Kaduna on Saturday.
“Considering the threat of environmental degradation such as erosion, pollution, flooding and climate change, which is affecting several communities across the nation negatively, including Kano state, therefore the State House of Assembly pledge to give top priority to the Bill for the establishment of the agency for the speedy passage into Law,” he emphasized.
The Speaker, who was represented by the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon Abdullahi Iliyasu Yaryasa, said passing the bill into Law will not only help in addressing numerous environmental challenges in Kano State but will also go a long way in culminating other diseases in our immediate environment.
He assured the participants that the House would use the all-necessary inputs generated on the course of conducting the retreat judiciously for the betterment of the people of the State.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Environment, Dr. Kabiru Ibrahim Getso said the retreat was organized ‘in line with the global convention on environment and climate change to review a bill for the establishment of an Agency to be vested with the responsibilities of addressing issues of watershed, erosion and climate change as it affects Kano State negatively.
Dr. Getso added that the Agency when established will streamline multiple activities and initiatives aimed at mitigating the negative effects of climate change thereby accelerating agricultural and infrastructural development and it will also serve as a window for assessing support from donor agencies to the State.
He further assured the people of the State of ministry’s commitments for the realization of the set objectives.
Also speaking, the National Project Coordinator of the NEWMAP, Dr. Salisu Dahiru, who was also represented by a Water Resources Consultant, Mr. Anda Yalaks, said one of the key issues of organizing the retreat is to among others find a lasting solution on the environmental degradations that is adversely affecting our society negatively
He then thanks the State Government for joining other states who had already established such agency.
While commenting, the Chairman, House Committee on Environment in the State Assembly, Hon. Dr. Musa Ali Kachako said the bill will be x-rays clause-by-clause to ensure all variables are examine and incorporated before passage into Law.
He commended the State Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for prioritizing Environment, which he described as the closest associate of human being.
He also commended the State Ministry of Environment for its total commitments in providing measures that will address environmental challenges through various approaches like drainage clearance exercise and tree planting campaign, where the ministry plants more than two million seedings last year and one million in this year (2021) in its efforts to tackle the menace of desert encroachment and climate change.
The proposed draft bill was presented and expertise make observations and technical corrections were made during the retreat which was held at Bafara Hotel, Kaduna State.
