By Ibrahim Kado
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with Adamawa State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), has inaugurated a tree planting campaign in Guyuk Local Government Area of the state.
The campaign is to mark 2024 World Environmental Day with the theme “Accelerating Land Restoration, Drought Resilient and Desertification Progress”.
Mr Williams Wakili, UNICEF WASH facilitator in Adamawa, at the inauguration said that “the day goes beyond symbolic gesture”.
According to him, the day is focused on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience, as the nation faces degradation, desertification and drought.
“So, the day is about fostering a culture of environmental consciousness, responsibility and actions aimed at preventing damage to the environment through human activities and protecting the earth“, he said.
In his remarks, Tanko Audu, Adamawa Commissioner for Water Resources, said it was a fact that desert encroachment had eaten deep into the earth, hence, the need for afforestation
Represented by his Permanent Secretary, Mr Mundi Ibrahim, Audu called on the people in the area to stop indiscriminate failing of trees, and to ensure planting of more trees to protect the environment.
Also, Mr Emmanuel Esly, Programme Manager, RUWASA, called on the people to make great impact in restoring the environment for more rainfall.
According to him, without rainfall, there will be a lot of challenges in the environment and changing times have changed the environment to something else.
“There is the need for people to do their best to restore the environment by planting more trees,” he said.
Similarly, Dishon Dan-sanda, the traditional ruler of Guyuk LGA, thanked and appreciated Adamawa government, UNICEF, and all stakeholders for the steps taken to protect the environment.
“Therefore, I will make sure to enforce these to the letter with the aim to protect our environment, and I will not tolerate indiscriminate felling of trees without planting another”, he assured