North at risk of drought -Gov Aliyu

NIGER State governor, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has raised the alarm over desert encroachment into most northern states, warning that if the situation is not urgently put under control, the region may experience drought very soon.

Aliyu stated this at a public function in Minna, the state capital, on Thursday, adding that some countries within Africa which failed in recent time to deal with deforestation, had  been devastated by drought.

The development, he said, had caused death of both children and women, adding that “the threat is becoming real in the northern parts of the country.

“The northern states may come under drought if we don’t protect our environment.”

According to him, the Niger Green Guards initiative was  a demonstration and commitment of his administration towards the preservation of the environment, as it would protect the biodiversity and preserve forest resources.

“This initiative is borne out of our concern for the protection of our biodiversity and the need to take deliberate steps to preserve our forest resources in their natural state,” he said.

The governor, however, pointed out that the forest guards would work under the supervision of the state police command, while he charged them to discharge their duties with the utmost sense of responsibility and commitment.

Aliyu stressed that the state  forestry laws were being reviewed, with a view to providing them with the needed tool for smooth operation, adding that the prohibition of forest exploitation regulation 2013 had been enacted into law, to enable the new Green Guards to operate with legal backing.

Speaking earlier, Commissioner for Environment, Parks, Gardens and Forest Resources, Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko, had said the 486 trained personnel were the first phase of the programme targeting 10 local government areas being threatened by illegal loggers and hunters.