Emir inaugurates tree planting along ancient Zaria city walls

The Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli, planted the first tree along Zaria’s ancient city walls, linking an environmental project with the preservation of one of Northern Nigeria’s historic landmarks.

The ceremony marked the completion of the Women Empowerment and Climate Resilience Initiative, carried out by Bridge That Gap Hope for Africa Initiative with support from the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement. The group has planted 6,000 trees under the project, with 2,000 each in the Chikun, Zangon Kataf and Zaria local government areas of Kaduna State.

Bamalli thanked the organizers for supporting the Zazzau Emirate and said the work would help address soil degradation. He also pointed to the rainy season as a favorable time for planting because of the moisture needed for saplings to take root.

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Thank you very much for finding time to come again and to support the Emirate through tree planting. This is remarkable and will help address the issue of soil degradation in our environment

Members of the Zazzau Traditional Council joined the emir, including Birni da Kewaye district head Sambo Idris, who also planted a tree. After the inauguration, project staff and community volunteers distributed the remaining seedlings to selected sites in vulnerable areas across Zaria.

BTG Programme Officer Zinta Akpoko said the initiative aims to promote environmental sustainability while protecting and restoring sections of the centuries-old walls affected by erosion and encroachment. The trees are intended to create green barriers around the ramparts, increase vegetation cover and support community participation in climate resilience.

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We are grateful to you and equally happy that you have come during this period, the rainy season