Zulum bans tree felling, declares monthly sanitation in Borno

By Kunle Sanni

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has signed two executive orders: one banning the indiscriminate felling of trees and another mandating a monthly statewide sanitation exercise.

The orders were signed on Friday at the Government House in Maiduguri, with the governor citing growing environmental threats and rising public health risks as key motivations.

Governor Zulum said the unchecked destruction of the environment through tree felling had reached alarming levels, posing a serious threat to the ecosystem and future generations.

“By the powers vested in me under the Constitution and existing state laws, I hereby declare the felling of trees prohibited in Borno State,” he said.

Under the new law, first-time offenders caught illegally cutting trees will face a fine of N250,000 or up to three years in prison. Repeat offenders risk up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine of N500,000, or both.

In a related move, the governor declared the first Saturday of every month as Sanitation Day, making it mandatory for residents across the state to clean their surroundings.

“This initiative is part of our effort to promote a cleaner, healthier environment and to curb the spread of diseases,” Zulum explained.

According to a report by Leadership Newspaper, violators of the sanitation order will be subject to a fine of N100,000 or up to two years in prison for a first offence, with stricter penalties for repeat violations.