In it’s effort to checkmate desert encroachment and also in support of Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) One Million Tree Planting Campaign, Kaduna State Government has donated over 10,000 seedlings to the premier military training institution.
Handing over the seedlings to the NDA Commandant and the management of the Academy yesterday in Kaduna, Governor Uba Sani asserted that the donation was in consistency with the administration’s vision to plant ten million trees before the end of his tenure.
The Governor was represented by the State Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Abubakar Buba, commended the Institution wich he said garnered respect within and outside the shores of the Country.
The Commissioner acknowledged the negative effects of desertification and climate change on environment, calling for collective and concerted efforts by stakeholders to fight against the raging menace.
“There is no gain in saying that environmental degradation and climate change are affecting the ecosystem, and the Kaduna State Government is putting all its allies into fighting the menace.
“NDA, through the establishment of a biodiversity conservatory in the Academy, is a worthy partner to fulfill the mission.
“I commend the Commandant and his Management team for showing interest in Governor Uba Sani’s vision by helping to protect the Ecosystem,”he said.
In his address, the NDA Commandant, Maj. Gen. John O Ochai thanked the Government and the people of Kaduna State for being a wonderful host to the Nigerian Defence Academy.
According to him, the Kaduna State Government has displayed a commitment to the vision by offering 10,000 seedlings in furtherance of the one million trees Planting Campaign.
“By implication, this has taken us a step toward achieving the one million trees planting campaign, and the Hon. Commissioner has promised to give us more.
“We at the Nigerian Defence Academy in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government, are going on this program for environmental sustainability and to ensure that future generations don’t take over a sick world.
“The current rate of human activities is depleting the environment and creating some changes which are known as Climate change.
“Recently, there was flooding in some parts of Northern Nigeria, and this is remotely linked to the menace of climate change.
“By planting trees, we are regenerating the environment and ensuring that other menaces such as desert encroachment and flooding become things of the past, and the only way to do that is by planting more trees and ensuring environmental sustainability,” He said.