Traditional rulers and community leaders in Bauchi state have been warned to desist from encouraging or participating in efforts to deplete the forest in the state. Bala Mohammed, the state governor gave the warning on Thursday. He told the leaders to stop selling forests across the state.
While lamenting that the development has exposed the state to crisis related to land grappling, the governor impressed it on the leaders to use the forests for agriculture production as well as other profitable ventures, stressing that the state is blessed with arable forests.
He gave the warning while flagging the construction of 25km Mainamaji – Pali – Gwaram rural road aimed at opening up the area to vast agricultural practices, since it is blessed with natural resources, thereby attracting investors.
Also he said the government has completed plans to establish a cement factory in Gwana district which will offer employment opportunities to the people noting that no fewer than 200 youths will be employed as truck drivers, while many others will be taught welding just as others will be employed as skilled and casual workers.
The Governor stressed that his administration will rehabilitate the 32km Bauchi – Dindima Federal highway to facilitate easy access to the famous Yankari Games Reserve.
He further said that the Federal Government is constructing the Futuk – Mansur Federal road to ease transportation of people and goods especially farm produce to the markets.
He also assured that his administration will continue to embark on projects that will open up the rural areas to check migration to the urban areas.
Responding to the development, the Commissioner of Rural Development and Special Duties, Honourable Farouk Mustapha in his goodwill message said, “This effort is one of the legacy projects of Governor Bala Mohammed, and because of his doggedness, he paid a whooping amount of money to the tune of N2.5b as counterpart fund just for Bauchi State to benefit, especially the rural dwellers as well as the state in general.”
He said, “Bauchi communities are very lucky to have somebody like Bala Mohammed as the Governor, who is always telling me that, we are the rural dwellers and we must do something to improve agricultural activities through rural roads, and that would encourage business transactions.”
The commissioner is particularly happy that the project will attract further development, which will open up the environment further to the joy of residents. His words: “And that will open up the rural areas and attract local investors as well as for economic well-being of the people in those benefiting rural populace, and the Governor has done what is right, so, based on this, since yesterday (Wednesday), we have started with 115 kilometers in Northern Senatorial District plus the one in Liman Katagum to Luda last year, now is 124km rural roads. In the whole of Nigeria, no state ever has this project.”
