By Yarima Haruna, Kebbi
Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi has directed the Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies to identify a forest reserve in Kalgo Local Government Area for the cultivation and preservation of medicinal plants.
Idris gave the directive when he received the leadership and member of the Coalition National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), Kebbi chapter, at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi.
He said the initiative was aimed at preserving traditional medicine and preventing the disappearance of indigenous medicinal plants and herbs in the state.
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“ We don’t want our traditional medicine to vanish and disappear.
” I have directed the ministry concerned to find a forest reserve for the association along Kalgo Local Government Area,” he directed.
The governor also pledged to fulfil commitments to the association, including the appointment of one Senior Special Adviser from each of the four emirates in the state.
He said the state government would also organise a workshop for members of the association to enhance their knowledge and skills in traditional medicine.
According to him, the government has donated two vehicles to the association as part of measures to support its activities.
Idris said his administration had every reason to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national, state and local government levels, stressing that the state had benefited from the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu.
He said several federal projects were being executed across the state, including Malando-Warra-Ngaski, Koko-Dabai and the Koko-Besse-Zaria Kala-Kala-Bagudo road projects.
The governor added that his administration had renovated more 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 also been renovated, while 176 of the 225 primary healthcare centres had so far been renovated and equipped.
“ The remaining ones will be renovated soon,” the governor assured.
He urged the traditional medicine practitioners to sustain their support and cooperation with his administration, as well as the federal government, to ensure continuity of ongoing development projects.
Idris said the achievements recorded by the 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 government would continue to support initiatives aimed at preserving traditional medicine and improving the welfare of practitioners in the state.
Earlier, Alhaji Rilwanu Wasagu, Kebbi Chairman of the NANTMP coalition, reaffirmed the association’s support to the governor, saying 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 what he described as significant improvements in infrastructure, healthcare, education and agriculture, particularly the free distribution of fertiliser, farm inputs and equipment to farmers.
Wasagu also lauded the administration for improving the standard of general hospitals, improving infrastructure and completing an ultra-modern motor park and secretariat.
He said the association had more than 40,000 members across the state and was prepared to mobilise them to support Idris and Tinubu in the forthcoming 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.
He also requested the provision of a permanent secretariat for the association and the organisation of capacity-building workshops to improve members’ knowledge of traditional medicine.
Wasagu described the governor’s reception of the association at the government house as historic, saying it demonstrated his administration’s recognition of the contribution of traditional medicine practitioners to healthcare delivery.
He, thereafter, presented Idris with an award titled “Sarkin Yakin Masu Maganin Gargajiya” in recognition of his performance and leadership.
