Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi has directed the State Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies to establish a forest reserve in Kalgo Local Government Area for the cultivation and preservation of medicinal plants.
Idris gave the directive when he received members of the Coalition of National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), Kebbi Chapter, on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi.
He said 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 also said the state government would organise a workshop for members of the association to enhance their knowledge and skills in traditional medicine.
The governor said his administration had donated two vehicles to the association as part of measures to support its activities.
According to him, his administration has every reason to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) at all levels, stressing that the state had benefited under the President Bola Tinubu administration.
He said several federal projects were being executed in the state, including the Malando-Warra-Ngaski, Koko-Dabai and Koko-Besse-Zaria Kala-Kala-Bagudo road projects.
The governor added that his administration had renovated no fewer than 2,000 primary and secondary schools across the state, with the exercise still ongoing.
He said 26 of the 30 general hospitals in the state had been renovated, while 176 of the 225 primary healthcare centres had so far been renovated and equipped.
He stated that the remaining ones would be renovated soon.
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.
He noted that the achievements so far recorded by his administration justified the call for continued support for Tinubu and the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governor thanked the association for the honour and pledged that the state government would continue to support initiatives aimed at preserving traditional medicine and improving the welfare of practitioners.
Earlier, Chairman of NANTMP, Rilwanu Wasagu, reaffirmed the association’s support for the governor, pledging that its members would mobilise for the 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 and infrastructure, and for completing an ultra-modern motor park and secretariat.
He said the association had more than 40,000 members and was prepared to mobilise them to support Idris and Tinubu in the forthcoming general elections.
The chairman, however, appealed to the state government to allocate land for the cultivation of medicinal plants to reduce indiscriminate felling of trees and ensure sustainable access to traditional medicinal resources.
Wasagu also commended the governor’s recognition of the contributions of traditional medicine practitioners to healthcare delivery in the state.
He thereafter presented Idris with an award of “Sarkin Yakin Masu Maganin Gargajiya” in recognition of his performance and leadership.
