Adamawa State is facing a severe threat of desertification due to human activities and the destruction of forest reserves by Boko Haram, former Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo has warned.

Speaking at a one-day seminar organized by the Iliya Yame Kwacha Foundation at Guraigi Hotel in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, Abbo sounded the alarm on the rapid desertification the state is experiencing.

Abbo attributed the crisis to deforestation and the insurgency led by Boko Haram, emphasizing the urgent need for tree planting as a countermeasure against the ongoing climate change issues affecting the state.

He stressed that making tree planting mandatory is crucial for the state’s survival, stating, “If we fail to act, Adamawa State will become a desert in the next 50 years, rendering the environment uninhabitable for all living things.”

The former senator urged governments, institutions, organizations, NGOs, civil society organizations, and National Assembly members to take immediate action to address the crisis.

Earlier in hs welcome address, the Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria and chairman of the seminar, Most Rev. Musa Panti Filibus, condemned recent terrorist attacks on Gwoza in Borno State, which claimed nearly 40 lives, and appreciated the government’s efforts to address these attacks.

Rev. Filibus explained that the seminar focused on the conflict between farmers and herders, particularly in Northern Nigeria, and highlighted the importance of afforestation and reforestation in addressing the root causes of this conflict.

“The seminar aimed to foster understanding, collaboration, and decisive action towards peaceful coexistence and sustainable development,” he said.

He emphasized the importance of environmental conservation and encouraged both governments and citizens to prioritize sustainable practices.

While commending the Adamawa State Government’s efforts to ban uncontrolled tree cutting and burning for charcoal production, Filibus expressed optimism that the seminar would generate concrete strategies for tangible outcomes and thanked the organizers and participants for their commitment to restoring the environment and creating a harmonious future.