Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya commended the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for climatic change initiatives which has a great impact on health, environment and especially agriculture, the main stay of the economy of the people in the subregion.
He stated this during a two-day summit on climate change organised by NEDC with a view to stepping up action towards building resilience and reversing of the negative trends.
Represented by his Deputy, Manassah Daniel Jatau, the Governor informed the gathering about the efforts of his administration when it came on board in 2019, including identifying the priority needs of the people and the subsequent drafting of the Gombe ten-year development Ppan which aims at addressing the needs of the people.
According to him, “Being a government with a foresight, Gombe State Government under the leadership of Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, did “need assessment” of the residents in the state on coming to power in 2019. The priority needs were security, health, education, agriculture, etc. Our foresight saw to the development of a ten-year development plan 2021-2030.
“This 3-day event climate change, is being mentioned for obvious reasons. Agriculture is so important that about 80% of the population in Gombe state are engaged in it.
“It is the lowest lying fruit available that will be picked by the population, because they will not be required to learn a new or different profession. The farmers need to learn, to comprehend, adapt and implement new methods of farming usage of quality seedlings, appropriate fertilizer type.
“Much as the government engaged and encourage agriculture, a challenge was foreseen, based on reports by concerned bodies on climate, and everything to do with it, at the various world conferences.
“Having taken a critical look at the environment, with the dwindling rainfall, early withdrawal of rains, “fast travelling” desertification and deforestation, the Governor came up with a program Tripple G, Gombe Goes Green, which aims at planting one million trees each year of the administration.
“Woodlots have been created in each of the 11 Local Government Area Councils, with the support AcreSAl, New Map and some interested individuals. The state has since surpassed its target, yet we are planting.
“Plans are on to involve NYSC Corps in the scheme by requesting each corps member to plant and nurse a tree during the year he/she is serving in the state. Forest rangers were employed to monitor the cutting of trees and ensure the planting of trees in place of the fallen ones.
“Our efforts toward addressing the issue of climate change earned this state the 2nd position after Lagos in the climate governance of this 3-day event climate change, is being mentioned for obvious reasons.
“Agriculture is so important that about 80% of the population in Gombe state are engaged in it. It is the lowest lying fruit available that will be picked by the population, because they will not be required to learn a new or different profession.
“The farmers need to learn, to comprehend, adapt and implement new methods of farming. usage of quality seedlings, appropriate fertilizer type, etc. Much as the government engaged and encourage agriculture, a challenge was foreseen, based on reports by concerned bodies on climate, and everything to do with it, at the various world conferences.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, North East Development Commission, Mohammed G. Alkali said issues involving climatic crisis are constituting new challenges which if not checked would threaten not only the economy but the very fabric of the society.
He further explained that the summit was to sustain climate action towards building resilience, to explore innovative solution and to make the subregion a model of climatic resilience.
Dignitaries at the event include, the Secretary to Gombe State Government, Prof Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, Honorable Commissioners, Special Advisers, Permanent Secretaries, and First Class Chiefs and Emirs from the North subregion.
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