The Plateau State House of Assembly, presided over by its Speaker, Gabriel Dewan, has urged the executive arm of government to devise policies to control indiscriminate deforestation in the state.
The lawmakers made the call during plenary on Tuesday in Jos.
The legislators said that the indiscriminate felling of trees had negatively affected the environment in the face of Climate Change.
They resolved that implementable policies be developed by the government to end deforestation and protect the environment.
Mr Ibrahim Galadima (APC/Wase Constituency), in a motion of urgent public importance, drew attention to the devastating environmental hazards caused in Wase and other parts of the state.
Galadima stated that the indiscriminate felling of trees in Wase for the purpose of making charcoal and firewood, was negatively affecting the ecosystem, leading to erosion, drought, and desertification.
“Mr Speaker, in spite of measures by the government to control deforestation, the situation has persisted.
“The state government should, as a matter of urgency, come up with policies to annually embark on tree planting programmes in the state,” he said.
The lawmakers also, at the plenary, urged the state government to direct the relevant security agencies to intensify efforts to curb the increasing insecurity in the state.
Mr Joseph Gokum (APC/Kanke Constituency), in a motion of urgent public importance, also called on the assembly to look into the issue of insecurity, with the hope of finding lasting and permanent solutions.
Gokum urged the state government, with the support of international organisations, to intensify efforts at returning internally displaced persons to their ancestral homes.
The lawmakers called for the timely response of the State Emergency Management Agency, in the provision of aid to affected communities in unfortunate situations.
(NAN)
