Concerned citizens from the Bilbis community in Faskari Local Government Area have called on Governor Dikko Umaru Radda to establish a Department of Forestry and Desertification Control to confront what they describe as rapidly escalating environmental threats in their region.
In a statement, the group warned that deforestation, desert encroachment, and land degradation are increasingly undermining farming activities and endangering local livelihoods. They stressed that a dedicated department would provide coordinated, long-term solutions through restoration programmes, community sensitisation, and sustained environmental monitoring.
The citizens also urged Governor Radda to appoint former Faskari Local Government Chairman, Nafiu Garba Faskari, as Special Adviser to lead the proposed department. According to them, Nafiu’s track record of grassroots leadership, credibility, and deep understanding of community needs makes him their preferred choice.
They described him as proactive, accessible, and deeply connected to the people, saying his experience in local governance places him in a strong position to champion environmental protection initiatives across the state.
Beyond environmental issues, the group noted that Nafiu’s popularity and political goodwill extend well beyond Faskari. They expressed confidence that his involvement in the administration would boost public support for government policies and strengthen political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The appeal, they said, reflects the community’s desire for a more structured, government-led response to the environmental pressures threatening their future.
