President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday in Kaduna, launched the “Keep Kaduna Green Project” saying it’s time for a green Nigeria.

Buhari who commended Governor Nasir El-Rufai, for a worthy and timely project said the bold step would reverse the deforestation trend in the country.

Represented by Amina Muhammed, President Buhari noted that Nigeria has the highest rate of deforestation in the world.

“I would like to begin by thanking His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai and the good people of Kaduna State for inviting me to flag-off this laudable project.

“Environment is one of the six core pillars of this economy, thus underscoring the importance to the Change Agenda.

“The initiative in Kaduna State today is a clear example of state government contributing to the environment component of our economy.

“This initiative further underscores the importance of taking climate action and creating jobs for our teeming youths.

“This is a worthy and timely project given the challenges and opportunities it provides to Nigeria,” he said.

Continuing, Buhari said: “It is on record that the rate of deforestation is about 3.5 per cent per annum.

“The implication of this is that about 350,000-400,000 hectares of forest, equivalent to 576 million trees are lost annually.

“The environmental challenges that come with this include desertification, erosion, flooding and reduction in perspiration and contribution to drought. All this bring untold hardship on communities and the environment.”

The president said he is gladdened that 26,000 women and youths shall be involved in nurturing the trees to maturity.

Governors of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku; Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu as well as Acting Governor of Jigawa State, among other dignitaries planted trees to flag-off “Keep Kaduna Green Project”.

They said they will emulate El-Rufai’s initiative in their states.

El-Rufai In his speech entitled “Kaduna goes Green for jobs and the environment” revealed that, the projection is to engage about 26,000 persons across the state in the massive tree-planting effort: “We have embarked on. We trust that they will do their best to nurture the trees.

He said his government considers the Keep Kaduna Green Project an important intervention adding that, in planting one million trees every year, the state will thereby be checking desertification.

“We will be creating jobs for the people who will plant and nurture the trees. The trees will ultimately grow and improve the look of our cities and towns. The shade and reassuring feel that leafy neighbourhoods project should be accessible to all residents of our state in their own neighbourhoods,” El-Rufai said.

•Photo shows President Buhari.

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