The Kano State Government has issued quit notices to businesses occupying public parks and gardens across the state. This initiative aims to reclaim these spaces for public use, fostering relaxation and ecological balance.
State Commissioner for Environment, Nasir Garo, announced this move during a news conference on Wednesday, coinciding with World Environment Day. Garo emphasized the significance of reclaiming these areas to improve air quality and enhance the ecosystem.
“We have already served most of the occupants quit notice except those that petrol filling stations have been built on,” Garo stated.
The government has also embarked on an ambitious tree-planting campaign, planning to plant over 3 million seedlings in collaboration with stakeholders like ACReSAL, NGOs, individuals, and the private sector.
This is part of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, a six-year initiative with the World Bank and the Federal Government to combat desertification and manage landscapes across Nigeria’s northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Reflecting on the World Environment Day theme, “Land Restoration, Stopping Desertification, and Building Drought Resilience,” Garo noted the state’s efforts to recover 10,000 hectares of degraded land for agricultural use.
“The state government, in collaboration with the ACReSAL Project and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, is working towards recovering about 10,000 hectares of degraded land in Kano,” he said.
Garo highlighted several achievements of the current administration in environmental management, including the establishment of a state-of-the-art soil and water laboratory at Yusuf Maitama Sule University, drainage clearance to prevent flooding, and ongoing erosion control measures.
Additionally, the Kano State Government has partnered with the National Great Green Wall project, focusing on community tree nurseries and plantations.
“Funds and lands are put together for the establishment of community tree nurseries and plantations in the state,” Garo noted.
The commissioner reaffirmed the administration’s dedication to environmental sustainability and improving the welfare of Kano State residents, highlighting ongoing repairs and renovations at the ministry headquarters to enhance working conditions for ministry personnel.
