Climate change: Monarch advocates strict penalties against felling trees

The Emir of Dass in Bauchi State, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Othman II, has warned Nigerians to stop indiscriminate felling of trees to mitigate global warming that results to unfavourable climatic conditions, advising that the government needs to impose strict sanctions against offenders across the country.

The monarch made the call shortly after a symbolic planting of trees in his palace in commemoration of the 2024 Great Green Wall Day with the theme: “Fueling a Greener Future, Clean Cooking for Sustainable Development”.

The emir explained that felling trees for charcoal production was a source of concern that required collective efforts from stakeholders to end the menace,

He said, “Leaders at all levels should join the tree planting campaign to protect our environment. We must demonstrate commitment towards educating our people to plant trees and stop felling them.

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“We should take the exercise seriously and ensure that each and every personality plants a tree within our communities to fight desertification, land degradation and complement the government’s efforts to mitigate climate change.”

Similarly, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) joined the fight for climate resilience by planting economic trees to form orchards in its 251 Base Service Group in Bauchi.

Speaking at the flag-off of planting of the trees, the Director General (DG) of the Great Green Wall, Dr Yusuf Maina Bukar, who was represented by Muhammad Mustapha Gwani, said that the fight against deforestation must be collaborative in nature and should not be left to only the agencies concerned.

Responding, the Commandant of the 251 Base Service Group, Air Commodore A. A. Adedoyin, thanked the agency for extending its partnership to the military and assured that the orchard would not only be secured, but also nurtured to reap its economic benefits.