Kano State Commissioner of Environment Kabiru Getso has said plans are on pass a law to end the indiscriminate felling of trees to prevent desertification.

He said the states will plant one million seeds in 2020.

The commissioner spoke yesterday when the House of Assembly Committee on Environment visited his office. According to him, the plans were necessary because forestry is important to prevent desert encroachment and address climate issues.

He said: “We are also making plans to plant over one million seeds this 2020 across the state to ensure that the state is beautified and looks greener than before. That is why we need to have a forestry law, just the way the Federal Government has. Hence, we need the Assembly’s support.

According to him, the law, if established, will ensure that anyone found felling trees without permission is punished accordingly. Getso also urged the lawmakers to support the ministry as it was making plans to establish other laws towards keeping the environment clean.

Getso added: “The ministry is planning to distribute gas cylinders and other cooking utensils to the public aimed at discouraging the rampant use of firewood. That will also help to reduce climate challenges attributed to the smoke discharged by the use of firewood.”

Chairman of the House Committee on Environment Musa Ali (Takai Constituency) said the visit was to discuss challenges and way forward for the environment.

Ali said lawmakers will not stay in their offices and compel Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to come, but will visit them and see exactly what is happening in their offices.

He expressed their readiness to be part of the monthly sanitation exercise, saying it will allow them have knowledge of the environmental situation.