Afforestation program flagged for Nigeria

The World Bank will embark on afforestation program in 12 northern states of Nigeria, an official of Nigerian Forestry Association (NFA) has been quoted as saying, according to an online report out of China on ChinaDaily.com.

The states included are said to be Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Borno, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Niger, Sokoto and Jigawa.

The program, which will be jointly sponsored by the World Bank and NGO, Advance Global, will take off in the 2008 rainy season, the report stated.

Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed, NFA President and the Director of Forestry Resources under the Ministry of Environment, said the program would involve farmers in the states.

He said farmers would be paid US$5 for every tree planted in their respective farms.

After six months, a team would move round the affected areas to take census of the trees planted, while a workshop has already been organised for forestry officers to supervise the program’s start-up.

The President said five farmers would be selected from five wards in each local government area of the participating states to ensure wider coverage.