Refrain from Activities that Worsen Climate Change

The Nasarawa State Government has urged residents to refrain from activities that exacerbate climate change, particularly bush burning.

The Permanent Secretary of the Nasarawa State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Garba Rosha Muhammad, made this call while hosting staff of the Agro-climatic Resilience in Semi-arid Landscape (ACReSAL) project that were on a rally on Monday.

The rally commenced early Monday morning at the ACReSAL office along Jos Road in Lafia, with the team making their way to the Ministry of Environment, proceeding along Shendam Road, Al-makura Street, and ending at the Lafia Modern Market before moving to the Lafia Local Government Secretariat.

In an address to the gathering, the Permanent Secretary of the Nasarawa State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Garba Rosha Muhammad expressed gratitude to ACReSAL for organizing the event and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to combating activities that harm the environment.

Rosha emphasized the importance of collective action for forest preservation and environmental sustainability.

“As a ministry, we are prepared to support this initiative so that we can reach every corner of the state and educate the populace.”

At the Lafia Local Government Secretariat, the chairman of the Council, Muhammad Halliru Arabo, said human activities are the primary contributors to environmental degradation.

Arabo commended ACReSAL for its efforts in raising awareness about the dangers of bush burning and pledged to support the initiatives.

The team also visited Ohina Tiv in Doma Local Government Area to educate residents about the dangers of bush burning and the critical need to safeguard the environment.

Speaking on the detrimental effects of bush burning, the Project Coordinator of the Nasarawa State ACReSAL Dr. Napoleon Elias Gyobe explained that the sensitization rally aligns with Governor Abdullahi Sule’s vision to establish Nasarawa as a climate-resilient state.

“Bush burning depletes soil fertility, kills essential microorganisms, leads to land degradation, and ultimately reduces agricultural productivity.”

As the team traversed various streets of the state capital, they took time to engage with the public, discussing the adverse effects of bush burning.