By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Sokoto State Government says its programme to plant seven million trees across the state to mitigate climate change has reached 70 per cent completion.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Development, Dr Bashir Muhammad-Achida, disclosed this on Monday, during the Climate Finance Readiness Assessment (CFRA) validation workshop in Sokoto.
He said the initiative was part of Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s interventions to address climate change and its effects.
Muhammad-Achida urged residents and stakeholders to support the programme to ensure the government achieves its objectives.
He added that the government would review its financing models and adopt policies to address climate change and its impact on the state’s economy.
The commissioner described climate change as a major concern, noting that it affects agriculture, employment and security.
He said the assessment was an important step towards strengthening the state’s capacity to access, mobilise and manage climate finance for sustainable and climate-resilient development.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi-Iya, said environmental pressures could have serious consequences for communities and economic activities in Sokoto State.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to policies and programmes aimed at improving environmental quality, strengthening resilience and promoting development.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Irrigation, Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad-Sani, expressed confidence that the assessment report would support the state’s efforts to tackle climate change.
Earlier, the National Team Leader of the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE), Mr Ifenyi Peters-Uguoke, presented papers on climate finance access, institutional and policy frameworks, public financial management, and human resource capacity.
Peters-Uguoke called for increased funding and stronger commitment to climate resilience programmes.
The workshop is expected to validate the assessment report before its submission to the state government for implementation.
