Zulum Orders Crackdown on Deforestation, Awards Scholarships to 540 Council Workers
By Zare Baba, Yola.
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has called for the strict enforcement of anti-deforestation laws across Nigeria, warning that weak implementation of existing environmental regulations is accelerating desertification and ecological degradation.
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Governor Zulum 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.
In a major boost to environmental capacity development, the governor announced automatic scholarships for 540 local government workers, 20 from each of Borno’s 27 local government areas to study forestry-related courses at the Federal College of Forestry, Maiduguri.
He said the beneficiaries, to be drawn from agriculture and natural resources departments, would be fully sponsored by the state government and absorbed into the state civil service upon completion of their training.
Highlighting the state’s determination to combat indiscriminate tree felling, Zulum revealed that Borno has enacted stringent anti-deforestation laws but lamented poor enforcement due to public resistance.
“Borno State Government has recently passed a law that provides stringent punishment for those that fell trees anyhow, but unfortunately the provisions of these laws were not enforced,” he said, noting that attempts to implement the law had been met with criticism from residents who depend on firewood for cooking.
The governor urged stronger collaboration between the federal and state governments to effectively tackle desertification, stressing that coordinated enforcement and tougher sanctions against environmental offenders are essential.
“There must be vertical and horizontal coordination… both the federal and state governments should articulate a serious position that ensures stiffer penalties for defaulters,” he stated.
Zulum also highlighted his administration’s investments in ecosystem restoration, afforestation, waste management and renewable energy, describing the choice of Maiduguri as host city for the retreat as recognition of Borno’s recovery and environmental resilience.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Environment for its continued support to the state, particularly the ₦50 million intervention provided to mitigate the impact of the devastating 2024 floods.
Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawan, praised Governor Zulum for his commitment to environmental restoration and community rebuilding, saying the retreat would strengthen environmental regulation, institutional performance, intergovernmental collaboration and accountability.
The retreat, themed “Strengthening Enforcement, Innovation and Institutional Performance for Sustainable Environmental Governance,” attracted senior federal and state government officials, heads of environmental agencies and other key stakeholders.
