Great Green Wall: Over N310m worth of trees wilted

The trees were planted between August and September 2013 following the release of about N310 million to the participating states to procure assorted seedlings from private nurseries by the Federal Government through the ministry of environment.According to the technical team handling the project, the aim of procuring seedlings through the states was because the project […]

The trees were planted between August and September 2013 following the release of about N310 million to the participating states to procure assorted seedlings from private nurseries by the Federal Government through the ministry of environment.
According to the technical team handling the project, the aim of procuring seedlings through the states was because the project is a collaborative venture and states were in a better position to organise the people to plant the seed within that short time.
Daily Trust recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan released N10 billion in the second quarter of 2013 for the implementation of project out of which the N310 million was used for tree planting.
A check by Daily Trust in Kano, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Katsina has revealed that most trees planted following the release of the funds have wilted due to the absence of water to support them after the end of the rainy season.
Dr Obi Uchenedu, an Abuja based horticuralist said that the timing of the tree planting was wrong as a normal tree seedling would require a maximum of three months to stabilise and grow after planting.
But the situation in the states visited by Daily Trust was completely different as none of the planted trees had the opportunity of enjoying the rain for up to a month.

Kano:
The GGW programme is being implemented in six different locations in three local government areas of Kano State. The communities that are participating in the programme include Kadandanni, Gatsika in Makoda LGA, Gwaleda and Tona in Danbatta LGA, and Yadai and Kumbo in Gabasawa LGA.
The state planted 425,000 assorted plant seedlings such as Date plants, Mangoes, Guava, Cashew, Neem and Lime.
According to Muhammad Badawi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Kano State, the 425,000 seedlings were raised by the state and private nurseries before being acquired by the Federal Government for the project.
According to Badawi, the state government supported the programme with the sum of 15 million naira and also provided land and technical assistance, improved seedlings, protection for the seedlings and chemicals.
He added: “The Federal Government’s money was released very late when it appears that the programme would not even take off on the part of the Federal Government. But it is important to note that even before the Federal Government started its own programme, we have already started in Kano so when the fund from the Federal Government came, the state government released the sum of 15 million to support in logistic operation, that was the agreement.”   
When Daily Trust visited the sites of the project, it was discovered that most of the plants wilted.
Speaking on the challenges, the permanent secretary said delay in releasing fund and, secondly, the trees that have been transplanted are not immediately supported with what they promised like boreholes as well as other inconsistencies on the part of the Federal Ministry of Environment.

Zamfara:
In Zamfara State, almost all the 75,000 trees planted in two local government areas of the state have withered away and those that managed to survive were either eaten or trampled upon by animals that follow the route which the trees were planted on.
Mr. Mouktar Lugga, Commissioner for Environment in Zamfara State told Daily Trust that the trees planted were lost due to the non provision of water as well as protection borders to wade-off animals that use the route daily.
“The challenge for us came in two forms; one is the non provision of facilities such as borehole to water the trees and the other is the absence of fence to protect the trees against animals that ply that route on daily basis,” he said.
When Daily Trust visited Gurbin Bore in Zurmi Local Government Area where the Zamfara State component of the project started, it was discovered that the eight rows of one kilometre each of the shelter belt planted were nowhere to be found. The only sign of the planting were the polythene bags and holes where the trees once stayed.
Speaking on the development, Alhaji Bello Garba, District Head of Gurbin Bore, said that the laudable programme was faced with a number of challenges.
He said: “When the trees were brought here, we, as a community, accepted it wholeheartedly and mobilised ourselves to actively participate in it. We planted and women and youths were involved but after the planting there was no water for the trees and it is painful to see how our efforts have reduced to nothing.”
He appealed to the Federal Government to do all it can to ensure the survival of the project which, he said, has the potential of engaging youths.
Another resident, Magaji Dajin, said that it was a pity that what the whole community happily participated in, ended up as another wasted effort.
“When we were briefed on the project, we were told of so many good things that we, as a community, will benefit and as a result we did all we can within our power to plant those trees, but just after two months, what do we have, all our efforts have ended in a disaster,” he added.

Sokoto:
Sokoto State planted over 200,000 trees under the programme but less than 20 per cent of the planted trees survived as at the time Daily Trust visited.
Alhaji Mohammudu Jabbi, Sokoto State Commissioner for Environment said that the programme which the state embraced wholeheartedly considering the positive impact it would have on the people, was faced with teething challenges.
He attributed the challenges facing the programme to late release of funds for the planting of the trees and the absence of borehole to water the trees as soon as the rains ceased.
He reiterated the determination of the state to support the Federal Government in ensuring that the objectives of the programme were met.