The Katsina State Government has formally handed over the Kogo Forest Reserve in Faskari Local Government Area to the Federal Government as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration on environmental protection and security.
The handover took place during a courtesy visit by the National Council on the Environment, led by the Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, in Katsina on Tuesday.
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda said the decision was aimed at addressing deforestation, environmental degradation, and security challenges linked to ungoverned forest spaces. He noted that forest protection remains critical to sustainable development and national security.
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The Governor also highlighted Katsina State’s ongoing transition to clean and renewable energy, disclosing plans to generate 25 megawatts of solar power, advance wind energy projects, and deploy hybrid wind–solar systems across the state.
He said the state government is transitioning key public institutions to renewable energy, implementing flood control measures under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, and advancing a one-megawatt mini-hydropower project at Danja Dam in partnership with the French Treasury.
Governor Radda commended the Federal Ministry of Environment for selecting Katsina State to host the National Council on the Environment meeting and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to climate action, sustainable forest management, and environmental resilience.
