THE EMIR of Daura, Alhaji Faruq Umar-Faruq, has stated that indiscriminate felling of trees is more destructive than terrorism due to its severe environmental consequences.
The Emir made the declaration on Friday in Daura during a visit by Mr. Saleh Abubakar, Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW).
He emphasized that the emirate council considers tree felling a grave offense due to its devastating impact on the community.
The royal father noted that the council has long equated the unlawful cutting of trees to the killing of a human being. Given the importance of afforestation, he said, the emirate has instituted strict penalties for offenders.
Umar-Faruq attributed many environmental challenges across the region to reckless deforestation. He added that the Daura Emirate has been a leader in tree-planting initiatives nationwide.
“The emirate council is fully prepared to support the agency in distributing date seeds, as this will not only curb unemployment but also enhance security,” he assured.
The Emir pledged to intensify public awareness on the importance of tree planting and urged residents to nurture trees to combat deforestation and environmental degradation.
He called on the agency to take decisive action against deforestation, which contributes to desert encroachment and climate change.
Earlier, the NAGGW Director-General stated that the visit aimed to seek the Emir’s support in combating the advancing Sahara Desert.
Abubakar warned that desertification is destroying farmlands and killing livestock, stressing the need for widespread tree planting to restore the ecosystem.
He noted that while desert encroachment has been a long-standing issue, its severity has escalated recently.
“Addressing this menace will ensure better rainfall, improved agricultural yields, and economic growth,” he said.
Abubakar expressed satisfaction with the afforestation efforts in Daura and announced plans to extend the agency’s interventions across 11 northern states, including Katsina.
He revealed that the agency intends to distribute five million Saudi Arabian date seeds, which could generate over N300 billion in revenue within four years of cultivation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NAGGW operates in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kano, Zamfara, Sokoto, Yobe, and Katsina states. (NAN)
