From Ahmad Saka, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad, has unveiled a new initiative to reward farmers who plant trees on their farmlands, as part of the state’s ongoing green revolution aimed at promoting environmental sustainability.
The Governor made the announcement on Tuesday while flagging off the 2025 Annual Tree Planting Campaign in Kuletu Village, Dass Local Government Area. He said the initiative is designed to restore degraded lands and safeguard the environment for future generations.
Governor Bala emphasized the need for collective responsibility in protecting the environment, stressing that Bauchi State must lead efforts to champion a green revolution. He directed the Ministry of Housing and Environment to extend the tree planting campaign across all 20 local government areas, in response to the alarming rate of deforestation at the grassroots level.
He called on traditional institutions, religious leaders, and individuals to support the initiative by promoting tree planting and ensuring the survival of seedlings.
The Governor described the campaign as a mass movement against environmental challenges such as desertification, water scarcity, and declining agricultural yields linked to climate change and poor land use practices. “This campaign is a renewed pledge to heal our environment, restore our land, and safeguard the future of generations yet unborn,” he said.
He lamented the growing environmental threats facing Bauchi and the wider Sahel region, citing deforestation, bush burning, and overgrazing as major contributors. To address these, he disclosed that millions of seedlings have been prepared for distribution to schools, communities, and public institutions, in collaboration with the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project and other partners.
Governor Bala further announced that more than one million trees, including economic and indigenous species, will be planted across the state. He also revealed plans to explore Carbon Finance, which would enable farmers to earn income from GPS-monitored trees. Local government chairmen, councillors, traditional rulers, and stakeholders were urged to take ownership of the project.
Commissioner for Housing and Environment, Hon. Danlami Ahmed Kawule, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to environmental protection, assuring that sufficient trained personnel have been deployed to ensure the success of the campaign.
The Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyamini Usman, thanked the Governor for his concern and response to recent windstorm disasters in the area, describing the tree planting campaign as a demonstration of solidarity with the people of Dass.
Similarly, the State Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, Dr. Kabir Ibrahim, disclosed that about 40,000 hectares of land have already been restored in collaboration with the state government. He stressed the importance of monitoring newly planted trees to achieve the campaign’s long-term goals.
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