Desertification has compelled a number of communities within the Yusufari Native Authorities Space of Yobe State to flee their ancestral lands.
Baba Aji, the native authorities chairperson, mentioned this in an interview with the Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, North-east Nigeria, on Friday.
He mentioned dunes had taken over lands and homes within the communities, rendering the areas inhabitable for each people and animals.
“Desertification has pushed many individuals out of their origin. A few of these folks at the moment are taking shelter in Kaska village.
“If you go to the affected villages you will note the dunes nonetheless advancing nearer to homes.
“This case compelled a few of them emigrate to Nguru city.
“Different areas affected by the sand dunes are Tulo-Tulo and Bula-tura, two cities bordering the Niger Republic.
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“Our persons are dealing with the hazard of extinction,” Mr Aji mentioned.
The chairman expressed concern that the dunes would quickly encroach on an oasis, a important water supply within the space until pressing measures had been taken to halt the menace.
“Sand dunes are encroaching on the oases, which presents a phenomenal image amidst the cruel desert circumstances.
“It’s a clear and current hazard to the financial livelihood of the folks.
“Individuals develop sugarcane, tomatoes, cassava, groundnuts and even potatoes on the oases through the dry season. All these actions at the moment are below menace.
“If the oases are allowed to dry up, lots of of individuals will lose their jobs and be condemned to financial hardship,” he mentioned.
Mr Aji famous that the efforts made by the native and state governments, the Nice Inexperienced Wall challenge, and non-governmental organisations had been good however didn’t yield the specified consequence.
Due to this fact, the chairman appealed to the Federal Authorities to ascertain shelter belts within the space to forestall the sand dunes from rising.
“I’m interesting to the Ecological Fund workplace and the Federal Authorities to declare a State of Emergency on desertification in Yusufari native authorities.
“We want shelter belts to carry again the sand dunes from advancing. I’m proposing a sand dune programme which entails planting timber to guard the land.
“The sand dunes fixation must be speedily executed to forestall the dunes from taking on the oases,” the LG boss harassed.
On the state’s Agriculture Empowerment Programme, he lauded Governor Mai Mala Buni for allocating mini farm equipment and different farm inputs to the realm.
“The gear, fertiliser and improved seeds given to the farmers got here on time, after they wanted them most.
READ ALSO: Yobe govt distributes multi-billion naira agricultural inputs free to farmers
“With the well timed distribution of the inputs, we can have a bumper harvest this 12 months, Insha’Allah.
“Nonetheless, attributable to torrential rainfall this 12 months, we skilled flooding and erosion, resulting in the collapse of buildings and destruction of farm produce.
“We took a delegation from the governor and SEMA to the place buildings collapsed, and we predict help from them any second from now.
(NAN)
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