Northern Nigerian states spend millions on tree planting amidst persistent desertification concerns

By Abdullahi Lukman

Four northern Nigerian states – Kano, Yobe, Sokoto, and Kaduna – allocated a combined total of N867 million to tree-planting initiatives in 2024, according to budget reports, yet desertification continues to plague the region, sparking concerns over the effectiveness and transparency of these expenditures.

Despite significant financial investments, particularly in Kano State which allocated N500 million between October and December alone, evidence of tangible results in combating environmental degradation remains scarce.

This raises questions about the allocation of public funds and the impact of these projects on mitigating the ongoing threat of desertification, which severely impacts agriculture and exacerbates economic hardship.

Detailed budget reviews reveal varying levels of spending across the states. Sokoto State invested N150.1 million throughout the year, with N58.2 million spent in the final quarter.

Yobe State, facing acute desert encroachment, spent N177.8 million, including N8.9 million in the last quarter. Kaduna State allocated N40.6 million for tree-planting efforts in 2024.

The scrutiny of these environmental expenditures comes amidst broader concerns regarding fiscal priorities in Kano State. Reports indicate that the Kano State government, led by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, spent N10.4 billion on office furniture and fittings within the first six months of 2024, significantly exceeding the annual budget of N3.9 billion.

This expenditure dwarfed allocations for critical sectors, including water resources (N4.2 billion), rural and community development (N179 million), education (N2.5 billion), higher education (N323.6 million), health (N959 million), and hospital rehabilitation (N1.3 billion).

The total capital expenditure for these ministries was N9.4 billion, less than the amount spent on office furniture.