Jigawa Govt targets planting 5.5m trees to curb flooding

By George George ldowu

The Jigawa State Government is set to plant 5.5 million trees to combat the frequent occurrence of flood disasters experienced in the state this year to protect the environment.

The state government took the decision following destructive nature of flood experienced in 23 of the 27 local government areas in the state.

Floods has destroyed 7,000 properties, washed away 6,500 farmlands in the state according to the Chairman of the Committee of House of Representatives on Ecological Funds, Dr. Aminu Jaji Magaji.

During the Ecological Committee’s visit to the Government House in Dutse, Governor Umar Namadi acknowledged the devastating impact of the floods on the state.

He informed the committee that about 8,000 people were displaced and are currently taking refuge in several undesignated Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the state.

In the meantime, Magaji, in a statement, said the committee members visited the affected local government areas in Jigawa State as part of the committee’s oversight function adding that the visit in Dutse and strategic places within the state was at the instance of the Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi.

The Committee Chairman described the tragedy that befalls the people of Jigawa as shocking and unfortunate.

He identified desertification, land degradation, climate change crisis as well as deforestation as the major social problems affecting the areas exposed to flooding in the state.

According to Magaji, “the committee will soon embark on an oversight visits to states affected by flooding besides Jigawa to assess the situation for possible remedy.”

“The committee identified Jigawa state as one of the frontline states affected by flooding, gully erosion, desertification, and land degradation. Hence the need for the committee to do all it can to offer a solution to the problems confronting the people of the state is enormous,” he said.

He emphasized the committee’s commitment to ensuring that sustainable mitigation measures are implemented to assist all flood-affected states in restoring normalcy and hope to vulnerable communities.

Magaji assured the governor that the committee would support Jigawa in adopting sustainable land management practices and climate change control measures.

He noted that Jigawa State, being one of the states most affected by flooding, gully erosion, desertification, and land degradation, was a priority for the committee’s intervention.

In his words: “We opted to visit Jigawa State to see things first hand and determine how the federal government can help alleviate the suffering of the people.

“Jigawa is one of the frontline states exposed to flooding every year, and it is crucial that we offer solutions to the challenges facing the people,” he added.