By Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
The Yobe State Government has flagged off the 2026 Annual Tree-Planting Campaign with a call on residents to actively participate in efforts to combat desertification, land degradation and the adverse effects of climate change.
The campaign, held in Damaturu, has the theme: “One Person, One Tree for a Greener and Sustainable Yobe.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Mai Mala Buni, represented by his Deputy, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana, said the annual exercise was critical to restoring degraded landscapes, protecting farmlands, improving food security and mitigating the effects of climate change.
The Governor said the state government had raised three million seedlings of assorted tree species for the 2026 campaign, including indigenous and drought-resistant species such as Baobab, Mahogany, Tamarind, Mansonia and other varieties suitable for the state’s climatic conditions.
He said the campaign would particularly focus on the propagation and protection of indigenous tree species that are gradually becoming endangered due to unsustainable exploitation without replacement.
Governor Buni urged citizens and communities to go beyond planting trees by ensuring their proper care and protection to maturity.
He explained that the state had also established a Climate Change Council and six weather monitoring stations in Damaturu, Gashua, Machina, Yunusari, Jakusko and Fika to provide vital climatic information and strengthen preparedness against extreme weather conditions.
The Governor directed Chairmen of the 17 Local Government Areas to conduct similar tree-planting campaigns between August 26 and 30, noting that 2,000 seedlings had been allocated to each council.
Earlier, the Yobe State Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Sidi Karasuwa, commended Governor Buni for his sustained commitment to environmental restoration through policies and programmes aimed at reversing ecological degradation across the state.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Damaturu Local Government Council, Hon. Bukar Adamu, said the campaign was being replicated across the 17 Local Government Areas as part of the collective fight against desert encroachment, land degradation and climate change.
Hon. Adamu called on traditional and religious leaders, community groups and youths to take ownership of the initiative and ensure the protection and survival of the trees.
The ceremony featured the symbolic planting of tree seedlings, marking the official commencement of the 2026 Annual Tree-Planting Campaign across Yobe State.
