Green Wall Agency produces 45.3m tree seedlings for afforestation

By EricJames Ochigbo

The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), says it has produced 45 million assorted tree seedlings for its afforestation programme across the country.

Dr Yusuf Bukar, the Director-General, NAGGW, said this at an interaction with members of the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund in Abuja on Tuesday.

Bukar said that the agency had already distributed 10.8 million of the seedlings to farmers for planting as trees on farms to promote agroforestry.

He said that the agency had also rehabilitated 14,118 degraded landscape in different parts of the country.

“About 4,455 units of solar home lightening systems have been procured and distributed across the country, ” he said.

Bukar said that 3,102 units of solar street lights had also been procured and installed in rural markets, as well as boreholes and plant nursery sites.

He said the agency had also procured and distributed 6,300 units of super saver wooden stoves to families and inhabitants of rural communities to discourage indiscriminate tree logging for domestic purposes.

The director general also said that 128 units of solar powered pumps with trolley had been procured and installed for irrigation purposes across the 11 frontline states across the country.

“Forty-three units of solar powered boreholes and motorised boreholes have been constructed with complete accessories by the agency.

“We have constructed and equipped for off land training, five units of skill acquisition centres and 71 community plant nurseries, established for seedlings production.

“We have constructed a 14.6 km of rural feeder roads for ease of access and 110 tube wells have been constructed for irrigation purposes,” he said.

Bukar said that the agency had also trained 1,397 youths and engaged them as forest guards to protect the agency’s investments.

About 85 units of motorcycles have  been procured and distributed for the forest guards patrolling the agency’s investments so as to prevent indiscriminate tree felling,” he said.

He said that in the bid to empower women and youths, 205 units of grinding machines were procured and distributed to them.

“About 210,709 youths were engaged in direct tree planting and other related activities, 2,283 rural community members (women and youth) have been trained in off land livelihood activities.

”275 farmers have been trained on climate smart agriculture in dry land region,” he said.

Bukar said that the agency had established two Automatic Weather Stations for field data collection as well as an effective monitoring and evaluation system.

Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Rep. Sani Jaji (APC-Zamfara) said the roundtable was to educate the lawmakers on the functions of the agency to ensure effective oversight. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Ali Baba-Inuwa