The Katsina government says its environmental policies are already transforming citizens’ lives, driven by a strong and enduring partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment.

This was announced in Katsina on Wednesday by Deputy Governor Faruk Lawal-Jobe at the opening of the 18th National Council on Environment meeting.

Mr Lawal-Jobe said that the collaboration had strengthened institutional synergy, promoted national cohesion, and encouraged the exchange of best environmental practices across the country.

He stressed that environmental sustainability remained central to the state’s development agenda.

“We recognise the critical role of environmental sustainability in achieving economic growth and improving the quality of life of our people,” the deputy governor said.

According to him, as a result, the current administration had prioritised initiatives aimed at combating desertification, promoting afforestation, and protecting fragile ecosystems.

He further stated that the Katsina ministry of environment recently raised and distributed three million seedlings of indigenous economic tree species, which were planted in areas most affected by desertification.

Mr Lawal-Jobe added that farmers were being encouraged to adopt the Taungya farming system within well-secured forest reserves to enhance forest regeneration while boosting agricultural productivity.

“To strengthen environmental sanitation and hygiene, the state government procured and distributed mobile environmental sanitation equipment across the state,” he said.

The deputy governor said that this intervention had contributed to a significant decline in cholera and other waterborne and airborne diseases.

He disclosed that statutory ecological funds had been effectively deployed to construct and maintain drainage systems in both urban and rural communities. These projects, he said, had helped curb the recurrence of devastating floods and erosion across the state.

He said, “In its efforts to address drought and ensure food security, the state has revitalised irrigation schemes and distributed solar-powered water pumps, farm machinery, and agricultural inputs to farmers.

“Considering the arid nature of Katsina’s environment, the government established Community-Driven Environmental Protection Initiatives and created the Katsina State Erosion and Watershed Management Agency.”

The deputy governor noted that these interventions align with the administration’s broader goal of inclusive and sustainable development across all 361 political wards in the state.

(NAN)