Assorted tree seedlings have been planted to tackle afforestation in the country and are being distributed to farmers to be planted as trees on farms.
Dr Yusuf Bukar, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) says a total of 45,251,179 assorted tree seedlings had been planted to tackle afforestation in the country.
He made this known at an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund in Abuja on Tuesday.
He added that a total of 10,813,733 tree seedlings had been distributed to farmers to be planted as trees on farms to promote agroforestry and that a total of 14,118 degraded landscapes had been rehabilitated through various models of plantations.
Bukar said that a total of 3,102 units of solar streetlights had also been procured and installed at rural markets, boreholes and plant nursery sites while 4,455 units of solar home lighting systems had been procured and distributed.
He said that the agency had also procured and distributed 6,300 units of super saver wooden stoves to families and inhabitants of rural communities to discourage indiscriminate tree logging for domestic purposes.
The DG also said that a total of 128 units of solar-powered pumps with trolleys had been procured and installed for irrigation purposes across the 11 frontline states across the country adding that “430 units of solar-powered boreholes and motorised boreholes have been constructed with complete accessories by the agency.
“We have constructed and have equipped for off-land training, five units of skill acquisition centres and 71 community plant nurseries have been established for seedlings production. We have constructed 14.6 km of rural feeder roads for ease of access and 110 tubewells have been constructed for irrigation purposes,” he said.
Bukar said that no more than 1,397 youths had been trained and engaged as forest guards to protect the agency’s investments adding that 85 units of motorcycles had been procured and distributed for the forest guards patrolling the agency’s investments so as to prevent indiscriminate tree felling.
He said that in the bid to empower women and youths, 205 units of grinding machines were procured and distributed to women and youth saying “about 210,709 youths were engaged in direct tree planting and other related activities, 2,283 rural community members (women and youth) have been trained in off-land livelihood activities while 275 farmers have been trained on climate-smart agriculture in the dryland region.”
He also said that two Automatic Weather Stations had been put in place for field data collection as well as an effective monitoring and evaluation system.
On his part, the Chairman of the committee, Rep. Sani Jaji (APC, Zamfara) said that the aim of the roundtable was to familiarise the committee with the agency’s activities to ensure effective oversight adding that it was interested in doing all that it takes to ensure its constitutional responsibilities are implemented.
He said that the committee was in possession of several complaints from the public and as representatives of the people, the committee wants clarity from the agency.
