Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State announced on Wednesday that his government will strictly enforce measures against unauthorized tree cutting, vowing to penalize anyone involved in illegal tree felling.
Emphasizing the importance of preventing deforestation to mitigate the extreme heat experienced in recent years, Governor Yusuf highlighted the critical role of trees in protecting the environment. He made this statement while launching the 2024 statewide tree planting campaign, which aims to plant over 3 million trees as a measure to combat climate change.
He urged residents to develop the habit of planting trees in their surroundings. “Due to the immense benefits of trees, the Kano State Government will not hesitate to prosecute any individual caught felling trees without proper authorization from the state Ministry of Environment and Climate Change,” Yusuf said.
He continued, “Given the reality of global warming, it is essential for the people of Kano to adopt strategies to mitigate climate change. In 2023 and early 2024, Kano experienced extreme heat with temperatures reaching 44 degrees, partly due to a lack of sufficient trees.
“The 2024 Tree Planting Campaign is intended to combat indiscriminate tree felling, climate change, soil erosion, land degradation, and to enhance agricultural productivity and reduce desertification. We must all take responsibility for planting and preserving trees to achieve a greener and cleaner environment.”
Governor Yusuf stated, “Our administration is committed to planting 10 million trees during our first term in office.”
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, also urged residents, district heads, and ward heads to embrace tree planting to combat climate change.
State Commissioner for Environment, Nasiru Sule Garo, noted the critical importance of trees in reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and promoting cleaner air. “The more trees we plant, the purer and less toxic our air will be,” he stated.
