The Governor of Kebbi State in northern Nigeria, Alhaji Nasir Idris, has directed the State’s Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies to establish a forest reserve in Kalgo Local Government Area of the state for the cultivation and preservation of medicinal plants.
Receiving members of the Coalition of National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), Kebbi Chapter, on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, the governor said that the initiative was aimed at preserving traditional medicine and preventing the extinction of indigenous medicinal plants and herbs in the state.
“We don’t want our traditional medicine to vanish. I have directed the ministry concerned to find a forest reserve for the association at Kalgo Local Government Area,’’ he said.
He disclosed that the state government would organise a workshop for members of the association to enhance their knowledge and skills in traditional medicine.
The governor said that his administration had donated two vehicles to the association as part of measures to support its activities.
Idris urged the traditional medicine practitioners to sustain their support and cooperation with his administration as well as the federal government to ensure continuity of development projects in the state.
Earlier, the Chairman of NANTMP, Rilwanu Wasagu, reaffirmed the association’s support to the governor, pledging that its members would mobilise for APC in the 2027 elections.
“We have come to reiterate and reaffirm our support and loyalty to you as we did during your previous campaign in 2023,” Wasagu said.
He commended the governor for significant improvements in infrastructure, healthcare, education and agriculture, particularly the free distribution of fertiliser, farm inputs and equipment to farmers.
Wasagu lauded the administration for improving the standard of general hospitals, infrastructure and completing an ultra-modern motor park and secretariat.
The chairman, however, appealed to the state government to allocate land for the cultivation of medicinal plants to reduce indiscriminate felling of trees to ensure sustainable access to traditional medicinal resources.
Wasagu commended the governor’s recognition of the contributions of traditional medicine practitioners to healthcare delivery in the state.
GIK/APA