Read at : Google Alert - desertification
http://allafrica.com/stories/200803240699.html
This Day (Lagos)
24 March 2008
Taiwo Olawale
Dutse
Jigawa State and Dosso Region in Niger Republic, are to jointly fight the growing danger posed by desert encroachment and communicable diseases such as poliomyelitis and meningitis. This was the major highlight of a communiqué signed by Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and Mallam Ibrahim Belko of Dosso Region, Niger Republic, at the end of the latter’s four day working visit to Jigawa State. According to the communiqué, the two states are to fight hunger by sharing experiences, “in the areas of deforestation, reforestation, control of sand dunes and other similar environmental threats.”
In addition, the governors agreed to set up high power committees, which would meet regularly to find lasting solutions to perennial conflicts between farmers and herdsmen from the two “sister states.”
In their efforts to meet some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), they both agreed to “collaborate and support their national governments in the area of control of communicable diseases, particularly poliomyelitis and meningitis along the common border.”
They also agreed to continue to strengthen cultural ties, “which have historically remained very strong,” amongst peoples of the two states.
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Posted in Desertification, Ecology - environment, Forestry, hunger / famine, public health
