By Muhammad Adam, Borno
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has called for the strict enforcement of environmental laws across Nigeria to curb deforestation and accelerate efforts to combat desertification and climate change.
The governor made the call on Wednesday while declaring open the 2026 Annual Top Management Retreat of the Federal Ministry of Environment and National Tree Planting Campaign in Maiduguri.
As part of measures to strengthen environmental management, Zulum announced automatic scholarships for 540 local government workers to study forestry-related courses at the Federal College of Forestry, Maiduguri. The beneficiaries, drawn from the state’s 27 local government areas, will receive government sponsorship throughout their studies.
Expressing concern over the indiscriminate felling of trees, Zulum said Borno had enacted laws prescribing stiff penalties for deforestation but lamented that weak enforcement had limited their effectiveness.
He noted that attempts to implement the law had been met with public resistance from residents who depend on firewood for cooking, stressing that environmental protection must be balanced with sustainable alternatives for livelihoods.
The governor directed the Secretary to the State Government to work with all 27 local government councils to nominate 20 workers each from agriculture and natural resources departments for admission into the Federal College of Forestry. He added that the beneficiaries would be absorbed into the state civil service after completing their studies.
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Zulum also called for stronger collaboration between the Federal and State Governments to ensure effective implementation of environmental policies, saying coordinated action was essential to halt desertification, promote afforestation and protect Nigeria’s natural resources.
He highlighted his administration’s commitment to ecosystem restoration through tree planting, expansion of green spaces, improved waste management and renewable energy initiatives, noting that the state had continued to partner with federal agencies, development organisations and local communities to improve environmental resilience.
The governor thanked the Federal Ministry of Environment for selecting Maiduguri to host the retreat and acknowledged its support during the 2024 flood disaster, including a ₦50 million intervention to assist affected communities.
Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawan, commended Zulum’s commitment to environmental restoration and community rebuilding. He said the retreat would strengthen environmental regulation, institutional performance, intergovernmental collaboration and accountability in environmental governance.
The retreat attracted senior government officials, heads of federal environmental agencies, commissioners and other stakeholders.