From Muhammad Gazali Garba

Sokoto State Governor, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu, has called on residents to support the government’s efforts to combat desertification and other environmental challenges through massive tree planting and sustainable land management.

The Governor made the call on Tuesday during the flag-off of the 2026 tree-planting campaign at Gidan Man Ada Housing Estate, where he announced the distribution of *500,000 seedlings* across the state’s 23 Local Government Areas.

He said the initiative was not merely about putting seedlings into the soil, but about “planting hope, protecting our future and securing life for generations yet unborn.”

According to him, trees serve as the “lungs of the earth” by providing clean air, shade, food and wood, while also protecting the soil from erosion, attracting rainfall and providing habitats for wildlife.

The Governor, however, expressed concern over the indiscriminate cutting of trees and destruction of forests in the name of development, particularly road construction and building projects.

He warned that such practices contribute to desertification, climate change and other environmental problems that negatively affect communities and livelihoods.

“By planting trees, we are fighting against these problems and safeguarding our environment,” he said.

Governor Aliyu disclosed that the state government, through the Ministry of Environment, had procured economic and environmental tree seedlings for distribution to the 23 local government areas of the state.

He directed all local government council chairmen to liaise with the Ministry of Environment, collect their respective allocations and commence tree planting immediately.

The Governor stressed that the seedlings must not only be planted but also properly nurtured and protected until they mature and provide the intended benefits to the people.

He assured residents that his administration would continue to support initiatives aimed at environmental protection through afforestation, sustainable land management and climate resilience.

Governor Aliyu urged residents to desist from unnecessary tree felling, stressing that everyone has a role to play in protecting the state from desert encroachment.

“Sokoto, as we all know, is located in the Sahelian region and is therefore prone to desert encroachment, which is advancing at an alarming rate. We must rise to the challenge and do what is necessary,” he said.

He directed local government chairmen to pay greater attention to tree planting in their respective domains and educate rural dwellers on the implications and severe consequences of indiscriminate tree cutting.

The Governor further directed that where it becomes necessary to cut down a tree, it must be replaced, and concrete measures put in place to nurture and protect the new tree.

He appealed to residents to approach tree planting with passion, love and care, noting that collective effort would make communities greener, healthier and more beautiful.

“As Muslims, we all know the position of our religion on the benefits of tree planting and the reward attached to it. In fact, planting trees can be a _Sadaqah Jariyah_, whose reward continues even after death,” he said.

Governor Aliyu also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support for the Great Green Wall Initiative, which he said was aimed at combating climate change, erosion, desert encroachment and other environmental challenges across the country.

He thanked the people of Sokoto State for their continued support and prayers for his administration, and prayed for peace, progress and prosperity in the state and Niger.

In his welcome address, the State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Nura Dalhatu Shehu Tangaza, said the event marked the 4th annual tree-planting campaign since Governor Aliyu assumed office in 2023.

“The first campaign was at FCE Gidan Madi in September 2023. The second was at Wajake Housing Estate on 21st August, 2024. The third was at Sokoto New City on 29th August, 2025. Today, 1st September, 2026, we gather at Gidan Man Ada Housing Estate for the 4th campaign,” he said.

The Commissioner expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his prompt approval, consistent support and commitment to the fight against land degradation.

He said the support had enabled the Ministry to restore degraded areas and combat desertification across the state.

Tangaza commended the Governor, describing him as “the green Governor of our time.”

“In the history of Sokoto State, we have rarely witnessed a leader who confronts environmental challenges with such rapid, decisive and aggressive political will. We pledge our total loyalty and dedication to achieving your strategic blueprint for a healthier, safer and more prosperous Sokoto State,” he said.

The Commissioner said the Ministry had adopted an aggressive approach for 2026, with climate-resilient seedlings ranging from economic trees to shelterbelt species to be distributed statewide.

“Our focus this year extends beyond public spaces. We are targeting households, schools, religious centres and farm plots to ensure a widespread green canopy,” he added.

He warned people against reckless deforestation, adding that the Ministry would strictly enforce environmental laws against indiscriminate logging, bush burning and forest encroachment.

“We cannot plant trees aggressively while allowing reckless deforestation to undermine our progress,” he warned.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of Wamakko Local Government Area, Hon. Umar Ahmad Dundaye, thanked the Governor for choosing the area for the flag-off of this year’s tree planting campaign.

He assured the government of the council’s full support and cooperation to ensure the success of the exercise, and pledged to mobilise district heads, councillors and youth groups to ensure that seedlings allocated to Wamakko are planted and protected.

The ceremony concluded with the symbolic planting of trees by the Governor and other dignitaries.

The general public has been urged to include security agencies in their prayers for their safety and success in the fight against criminals and criminality in the society.
This will serve as a morale booster and encouragement to them to put more efforts in the onerous task of protecting people’s lives and properties.
A former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Sokoto State, Muhammad Abdullahi Sokoto made the call in a press statement.
He said the call has become necessary in view of the volatile nature of their job and their safety in an effort to protect the society at the risk of their lives and that of their family.
According to him, the security personnel like all other people are facing risk in the discharge of their duty; hence the need for the people to pray for their safety so that they can eradicate all forms of crimes in the society.
He acknowledged the risk inherent in the nature of their duty by sacrificing their lives and comfort to protect the people reminding the people that the security personnel are all human beings like us with only one life.
The former Chairman recalled how goodwill and prayers by the people contributed immensely in helping the Nigerian Armed Forces to crush and end the 1967 Nigerian civil war.
He opined that if people included the security agencies in their prayers and demonstrate grateful to their efforts they will feel more courageous in facing the danger of their task and be resilient in performing their duties.
Muhammad Abdullahi Sokoto maintained that if the public see the personnel as part and percel of the society and show generosity towards them their task will be less difficult adding that, discarding their relevance will only lead to laxity and lack of confidence, thereby eroding their morale.

From Our Senior Correspondent, AbujaCOAS, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu and Mr Gökhan Uçar,

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has received the Deputy Secretary of Defence Industries of Türkiye, Mr Gökhan Uçar, at Army Headquarters, Abuja, as part of ongoing efforts to deepen Nigeria–Türkiye defence-industrial cooperation and enhance the operational and technological capabilities of the Nigerian Army.

The engagement focused on expanding cooperation in defence technology, equipment development, local production, technology transfer, maintenance support and capacity building.
Lieutenant General Shaibu emphasised the importance of partnerships that deliver tangible operational benefits, strengthen indigenous expertise and provide sustainable solutions to the Nigerian Army’s evolving requirements.

The COAS underscored the need for mutually beneficial and enduring defence-industrial partnerships anchored on effective technology transfer, skills development, local content and sustainable maintenance capability. He noted that collaboration with credible international partners remains critical to building a more self-reliant, adaptable and combat-ready Nigerian Army.

The visit also provided an opportunity to explore cooperation in research and development, joint production, technical support and defence innovation. The engagement reaffirmed the commitment of Nigeria and Türkiye to strengthening defence cooperation, advancing indigenous defence-industrial capacity and supporting the Nigerian Army’s transformation into a more professional, technologically enabled and operationally effective force.

From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto

The Sokoto State Hisbah Board has debunked allegations circulating on social media by a blogger, @radical.okoja.bia and others, claiming that the Board is imposing restrictions on Christian worship in the state.

The Board, in a press statement issued on Saturday in Sokoto by the Commandant, Dr. Usman Abdullahi Jatau, described the claims as false, misleading and an attempt to discredit the Board and disrupt religious harmony in the state.

Dr. Jatau said it was necessary to set the records straight, stressing that Sokoto remains one of the most peaceful states in the country where adherents of all faiths are treated with dignity and respect.

“Our response is not intended to please or offend anybody, but to correct factual inaccuracies, challenge unsupported assertions, and distinguish facts from malicious and fictitious misinterpretations,” he said.

The Commandant said the allegations include claims that mixed gatherings of men and women are not allowed in Churches and that Church services must be conducted separately.

Other claims are that a pastor cannot sit in the same place with his wife during service, and that there is an agenda to Islamize Nigeria starting from Sokoto to Plateau, then to the South-West and finally to the South-East and South-South.

Dr. Jatau stated categorically that the claims do not reflect the position, mandate, or activities of the Sokoto State Hisbah Board.

He explained that the law establishing the Hisbah Board, as passed by the Sokoto State House of Assembly, affects only Muslims and has no bearing on the religious practices of Christians or adherents of other faiths.

“The blogger should continue his campaign for whichever party he is working for, but should not link the Sokoto State Hisbah Board with his assertions on the political fortune or misfortune of the country,” the Commandant added.

He urged the public to disregard the allegations and to continue promoting peace, unity and mutual respect among all religious groups in the state.

The federal government has reaffirmed its determination to completing and commissioning the 284-kilometre Kano-Katsina railway project by December 2026 despite challenges earlier posed by insecurity, land disputes and the seasonal slowdown in construction activities.

The assurance was given during a joint inspection of the project by officials of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Federal Ministry of Finance, representatives of lending institutions, the project contractor, a statement by the ministry noted.

The inspection provided an update on the progress of the strategic rail corridor, with officials putting the level of physical completion at 80 per cent.

The inspection involved the test-running of the completed track from Kazauri to Katsina.

Speaking shortly after the inspection, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transportation, Funso Adebiyi, an engineer, represented by the Director, Rail Transport Services, Habibat Buhari, also an engineer, said the project remained firmly on course despite some setbacks.

She said the rainy season had slowed construction activities slightly, but stressed that significant work had already been accomplished.

Habibat explained that the current level of physical progress remained around 80 per cent, adding that materials required for track laying had already been stockpiled at the project camp.

According to her, the government was working to ensure that the remaining activities were completed within the approved timeline.

“We have done a lot of work for just one per cent physical progress,” she said, stressing that the project had reached a stage where major construction activities could be accelerated.

The representative of the permanent secretary identified insecurity in some sections of the corridor and disputes over land and canal areas as the two major issues affecting the pace of construction.

She explained that security concerns had disrupted day-to-day activities in some areas, while some communities were yet to accept provisions relating to the Land Use Act.

She, however, assured that the challenges would only delay the project temporarily and would not stop its completion.

“These will only cause delays, not stop the project. We had similar cases in the past and were attended to,” she said.

She also disclosed that the government was intensifying engagement with affected communities and other stakeholders to resolve the land-related disputes and enable contractors to move into the affected sections.

She expressed confidence that the December commissioning target would be achieved.

She said efforts were being made to ensure that the required rolling stock arrived in time for the commissioning.

NDLEA Zone 5, Commander, ACGN Mohammed Ajiya, Presenting the Award to Muhuyi Magaji

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Zone 5 Command, covering Kano and Jigawa States, has honoured the Chairman of the Kano State Multi Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Muhuyi Magaji, Esq., as an Ambassador of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), in recognition of his sustained commitment to the campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking in Kano State.

The recognition was conferred on Thursday, 27th August 2026, during a courtesy visit by the Zonal Commander, NDLEA Zone 5, ACGN Mohammed Ajiya, accompanied by members of the Command’s management team, to the Chairman and members of the Kano State Multi Agency Task Force.

The honour recognises Muhuyi Magaji’s efforts in promoting inter agency collaboration, public awareness, community mobilisation and coordinated action against the growing threat of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

The NDLEA noted that the WADA Ambassador recognition goes beyond an honour, describing it as a renewed call to greater responsibility, advocacy and action in the collective effort to protect communities, particularly young people, from the destructive consequences of drug abuse.

Responding, Muhuyi Magaji expressed appreciation to the NDLEA for the recognition, describing it as both a great honour and a greater responsibility to intensify the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

He said the recognition would further strengthen his resolve to work with the NDLEA and other relevant stakeholders in confronting the menace, stressing that no single agency, institution or individual can win the war against drug abuse alone.

According to him, the scale and complexity of the drug problem demand a united front involving government institutions, law enforcement agencies, families, communities, traditional and religious leaders, educational institutions, civil society organisations, the media and other critical stakeholders.

He called for a stronger and more coordinated approach in which every segment of society takes ownership of the fight, stressing that prevention must begin from the home, schools and communities, while enforcement agencies continue to disrupt the supply and trafficking networks that fuel drug abuse.

«“The fight against drug abuse is not the responsibility of law enforcement agencies alone. It is a collective responsibility. Every parent, every community leader, every teacher, every religious and traditional leader, every institution and every citizen has a role to play. We must all stand together because the future we are trying to protect belongs to all of us,” he said.»

Muhuyi Magaji further stressed the need to move beyond reacting to the consequences of drug abuse to strengthening preventive measures, early intervention, sustained sensitisation and community based initiatives capable of discouraging young people from falling into drug related behaviours.

He said effective collaboration among agencies would ensure better information sharing, coordinated interventions and more impactful programmes, adding that the Task Force would continue to deepen partnerships with the NDLEA and other stakeholders towards building a stronger and more comprehensive response to drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

The Chairman also linked the campaign to the broader development agenda of the Kano State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, noting that protecting citizens, especially young people, from the consequences of drug abuse remains critical to building a safe, healthy and productive society.

He therefore urged all stakeholders to treat the fight against drug abuse as a shared national and community responsibility, warning that society cannot afford to leave the burden to security and law enforcement agencies alone.

He said the WADA Ambassador recognition would serve not as a destination, but as a renewed mandate to mobilise more people, institutions and communities into the campaign for a drug free Kano State.

Signed:
Lamara Garba, mnipr
Member, Media and Publicity Committee
Kano State Multi Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (MATFDAT)