The Borno State Government has proscribed the sales of charcoal and firewood along the streets of Maiduguri, the state capital and gave 48 hours for retailers to relocate to a marketplace located along the Damboa Road.

The move was meant to discourage indiscriminate tree falling and raise spirits toward afforestation.

This was announced by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and Environment, Barrister Kaka-Shehu Lawan, during the transplanting of seedlings in commemoration of World Environment Day in Maiduguri.

He said the state had deployed forest guards to prevent the felling of trees and that effort was being made to plant more trees to replace those destroyed by insurgents.

According to the commissioner, a total of one million neem trees have been planted across the state and that public agencies and interest groups will be supported to promote afforestation.

Governor Babagana Zulum, represented by his Deputy, Umar Usman Kadafur, said the event was marked to raise awareness about the impact of human activities on the environment, adding that people must protect and take care of the environment.

Kadafur said 5,000 species of assorted seedlings have been planted while 500,000 would be planted in various locations in the state.

(Daily Trust)