By: Aisha Mohammed
Tree felling has posed a major problem of desertification in Adamawa State leading to climate change and global warming.
In order to avert further deterioration and protect the environment and Human Life, UNICEF in collaboration with Adamawa State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, ADRUWASSA, embarked on a historic tree planting campaign in Guyuk Local Government area of the state to commemorate the 2024 World Environment Day.
In a Royal address during the tree planting campaign, the paramount ruler in Guyuk local government area, Kwandi Nunguraya, Dishon Dansanda, frowned at the high level of tree felling and warned staff of Agricultural Department, in the Area to desist from colluding with fraudsters to destroy the environment for personal gains, calling on other traditional leaders to protect the trees.
The traditional leader emphasized that the effects of desertification to the livelihood of mankind cannot be over looked and therefore appreciated UNICEF and Adamawa State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, for bringing the campaign to Guyuk.
Leveraging on the 2024 theme for World Environment Day, the state Commissioner, Ministry of Water Resources , Tanko Audu, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Engineer. Mundi Ibrahim, expressed concern on the devastating level of desertification as well as climate change which has effected human habitat globally encouraging the public to join the tree planting campaign to preserve and keep the environment.
In their separate remarks, Program Managers, Adamawa State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Esly Emmanuel and that of Yola Renewal Foundation, Jimmy Lot said Water is an essential part of the environment hence the reason for the Ministry of Water Resources to key into the tree planting campaign and charged members of the community to take ownership of the tree planting campaign for its sustainability.
During a presentation on 2024 World Environment Day theme, which is, Accelerating Land Restoration, Drought Resilience and Desertification Progress, Adamawa State UNICEF WASH Facilitator, Williams Wakili, said the day was set aside by United Nations to address environmental challenges and encouraged the public to embrace the fight for climate Justice so as to keep and preserve the environment.
Highpoint of the campaign was a symbolic tree planting campaign flag-off by the Kwandi Nunguraya, Commissioner Ministry of Water Resources, Adamawa State UNICEF WASH Facilitator, amongst other stakeholders.
