The Borno State Government has raised alarm over the unsustainable rate of tree felling, disclosing that no fewer than 600 trucks loaded with firewood enter Maiduguri, the state capital, each day.
In an interview with Daily Trust over the weekend, Engr Usman Aliyu, the pioneer Director General of the Borno State Agency for the Great Green Wall, expressed concern about the environmental impact.
“At the rate, both insurgent groups and the military are cutting down trees daily, the depletion is alarming.
“From my observations along routes like Maiduguri-Bama, Maiduguri-Biu (Damboa axis), and Damaturu-Kano, we see no fewer than 100 firewood trucks coming in daily on each route,” he stated.
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Aliyu emphasised that with around six major routes bringing in firewood, the daily total reaches about 600 trucks.
The insurgency has severely impacted the region’s environment, with widespread tree felling exacerbating climate change.
Many locals, unable to access farmlands due to security concerns, resort to cutting down trees for firewood or charcoal as a source of livelihood. “The rate of deforestation is deeply concerning,” he said.
To counter these challenges, Governor Zulum’s administration has launched an initiative to plant 15 million tree seedlings to curb deforestation and mitigate climate change.
“We are actively planting millions of seedlings, but our biggest challenge remains the protection and nurturing of these trees. Climate change affects us all, and we must contribute to mitigating its impact before it escalates into a full-blown crisis,” Aliyu urged.
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