The Katsina State Government has announced plans to introduce new legislation aimed at protecting forest reserves and newly planted trees across the state.
The announcement was made by Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda during the launch of a tree planting campaign at the School of Health Technology in Daura.
According to Governor Radda, the new legislation will impose penalties on those found guilty of tampering with forest reserves or uprooting trees planted in various parts of the state.
He emphasised the importance of safeguarding the environment and pledged to significantly expand the state’s tree planting efforts, aiming to raise and plant one million tree seedlings across Katsina State next year.
The governor also urged the management and students of the School of Health Technology to nurture the newly planted trees to maturity, emphasising the importance of community involvement in environmental conservation.
Additionally, he addressed infrastructural development at the institution, announcing the award of a contract for the construction of a science laboratory and solutions for the accommodation challenges faced by the institution.
The state commissioner for Environment, Hamza Suleiman, represented by the permanent secretary, Muntari Kado, declared that the ministry had raised and distributed over 3,000 tree seedlings across the state. Kado assured residents that close supervision would be maintained to ensure at least 80 per cent of the planted trees reached maturity.
