The Kano State Government says it is taking steps to restore indigenous tree species threatened with extinction because of their economic, medicinal and environmental importance.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Dr Dahir Hashim, disclosed this on Monday at a news conference in Kano.
Hashim said the initiative was part of the administration’s efforts to protect the environment, conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable development.
He attributed the decline of some indigenous tree species to human activities, climate change and other environmental challenges, noting that the restoration program would help revive trees with significant economic and medicinal value.
On flooding, the commissioner said Kano had not recorded significant deaths or major property losses from floods since 2023, attributing the development to the state government’s interventions and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
He said the ministry had intensified flood mitigation efforts through the desilting of drainage channels, provision of equipment to self-help groups and public sensitization campaigns.
“NiMet and other relevant agencies identified Kano as one of the states at risk of flooding, but through our collective efforts, we have been able to manage the situation effectively,” he said.
According to him, the government has also engaged traditional institutions, the Council of Ulama, non-governmental organizations, self-help groups and the media to educate residents on flood prevention.
Hashim listed major drainage channels that had been attended to, namely those from Baban Gwari to Kofar Nassarawa, Kwarin Gugau, Tarauni, and Jakara.
He, however, urged residents to stop dumping refuse into waterways and to stop constructing structures on drainage channels, warning that the ministry would continue to enforce environmental regulations.
The commissioner also appealed to residents to report blocked drainage channels and illegal structures to the relevant authorities.
He disclosed that the ministry recently conducted joint inspections of Tiga and Challawa dams with the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority to strengthen monitoring and early warning systems.
Hashim said the initiative aimed to prevent potential threats to communities around the dams.
He added that the state government was working towards developing a drainage master plan to provide a lasting solution to the state’s recurring flooding challenges.
On afforestation, the commissioner said the administration had raised 10 million tree seedlings in 2026 as part of efforts to improve environmental sustainability.
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He said the state produced one million seedlings in 2023, three million in 2024 and five million in 2025 through rehabilitated government-owned nurseries and partnerships with private nursery operators.
“We have made these seedlings available to individuals, organizations and government agencies interested in tree planting across Kano State,” he said.
