Muhammad Garba
A border Community group known as Babura Youth Development Initiative (BYDI), in Jigawa state has launched its annual tree-planting aims at combating desertification, Global warming and other forms of environmental degradation.
The tree planting campaign was lunched on campaign on Sunday in Babura town of Babura local government area, a border community between Nigeria and Nigeria Republic.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, the Executive Director of the organization, Mustapha Umar Babura, stated that the campaign is part of their effort to raise public awareness about the significance of tree planting in tackling environmental degradation.
He noted that Babura Local Government, being a border community between Nigeria and the Niger Republic, is highly prone to desertification.
In view of this, his organization chose the tree-planting campaign as one of its key annual projects.
Malam Mustapha explained that the organization mobilized 500 seedlings, 300 of which are economic trees.
These were distributed free to residents for planting, while the remaining 200 were planted along the roadside in the Kofar Yamma area of Babura town.
According to him, the emphasis on economic trees offers multiple advantages, including ecological preservation, food security, and achieving a sustainable, resilient environment.
He added that the association’s campaign aims to complement the efforts of Governor Malam Umar Namadi’s administration in tackling desertification, global warming, and other forms of environmental degradation
Mustaph Umar also called on all community members to join hands not only in planting but also in nurturing the seedlings to ensure the project’s long-term success.
In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of the Babura Local Government Chairman, represented by the Councilor representing Babura ward, Hon. Lawan Abdullahi commended the youth group’s efforts which aligned with local government and state government policies in mobilising general public for environmental protection.
He revealed that the local government is also running a parallel tree-planting program and has deployed guards to protect the young trees from destruction to ensure they grow to maturity.
The event also featured lectures delivered by Imam Hassan Musa on the significance of tree planting from an Islamic perspective, while Dr. Sani Isyaku of the Federal University Dutse elaborated on the importance of trees to human life and environmental health.
Other dignitaries at the occasion includes the District Head of Babura, Alhaji Abdulwasi’u Sa’idu; Malam Aminu Musa Muhammad; and the Chairman of the Babura Unity and Development Forum, Shu’aibu Alhassan, Comrade Tasiu Abubakar, Director of Empowerment from the Village Community Development Initiative (VILDEV) among others.
