President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has endorsed Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s 2025 Tree Planting Campaign in Sokoto State, aimed at curbing desert encroachment and promoting environmental sustainability. The campaign, flagged off in Sokoto New City, Kasarawa, focuses on massive tree planting across all 23 local government areas to protect farmlands and communities from advancing desertification.
Governor Aliyu announced that the State Government, through the Ministry of Environment, has procured both environmental and economic seedlings for distribution. He directed local councils to collect their allocations promptly and ensure planting in their domains, while sensitizing communities on the dangers of indiscriminate tree felling and the urgent need to protect existing trees.
Highlighting the religious and social significance of tree planting, Governor Aliyu stated that planting trees can be regarded as sadaqatul jariyya, a continuous act of charity whose rewards extend beyond one’s lifetime. He also acknowledged the National Agency for the Great Green Wall for providing 450,000 date seedlings to Sokoto State, which will be distributed to individuals, NGOs, government institutions, and public spaces to ensure a wide-scale plantation effort.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Nura Shehu Tangaza, emphasized that community participation is crucial for the campaign’s success, while the National Agency for the Great Green Wall reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s land from desertification. Governor Aliyu expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for supporting the initiative, which is part of broader efforts to combat climate change, erosion, and environmental degradation in Nigeria.