Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris has directed the Ministry of Environment to identify a forest reserve in Kalgo Local Government Area specifically for cultivating and preserving indigenous medicinal plants, according to official reports. The directive responds to an appeal from the Coalition of the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), Kebbi State chapter, which represents a network of over 40,000 practitioners in the northwestern state.
Kebbi State Directs Forest Reserve Allocation in Kalgo Local Government Area
Governor Idris announced the environmental directive during a meeting with NANTMP leadership at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi, as reported by state media outlets. According to the governor, the initiative aims to prevent indigenous herbs from disappearing. “We do not want our traditional medicine to vanish,” Governor Idris stated, per the official government account.
The state government has pledged specific material support to bolster the coalition’s operations. Furthermore, Governor Idris committed to appointing a Senior Special Assistant from each of the state’s four emirates to represent the practitioners and promised to organize a dedicated capacity-building workshop for members.
Did you know? Local studies in Kebbi State document well over 130 distinct plant species utilized by traditional healers to treat viral infections, malaria, and other widespread ailments, according to academic literature cited by researchers like Babangida Abubakar.
Practitioner Coalition Pledges Loyalty and Mobilization Ahead of 2027
During the Government House visit, NANTMP Kebbi Chairman Alhaji Rilwanu Wasagu expressed gratitude for the administration’s recognition of traditional healthcare delivery. Wasagu also highlighted the distribution of free fertilizer and farm inputs to farmers across the state.
In return for these administrative actions, the coalition formally pledged its political support. Wasagu also renewed appeals for permanent land allocation to curb the indiscriminate felling of trees and requested a permanent secretariat for the association.
Infrastructure Projects and Broader State Context
Governor Idris used the engagement to tie his environmental and healthcare preservation efforts to broader federal and state development tracks. According to verified reports, the administration pointed to ongoing major federal road projects in the area, including the Malando-Warra-Ngaski, Koko-Dabai, and Koko-Besse-Zaria Kala-Kala-Bagudo road initiatives. On the healthcare front, the governor noted that 26 of Kebbi’s 30 general hospitals and 176 of its 225 primary healthcare centers have undergone recent renovations, with remaining facilities slated for future upgrades.
Pro Tip: Researchers emphasize that preserving local botanical repositories safeguards critical pharmacological leads for treating microbial infections, diabetes, and cancer, underscoring the economic and medical value of localized forest conservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the new medicinal forest reserve be located?
According to Governor Idris’s directive, the Ministry of Environment is tasked with identifying a suitable forest reserve specifically within Kalgo Local Government Area.
How many traditional medicine practitioners operate in Kebbi State?
The Coalition of the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), Kebbi State chapter, represents a network of over 40,000 members.
What specific support did the Kebbi State government promise the association?
According to official reports, the state government donated two vehicles, pledged to appoint a Senior Special Assistant from each of the state’s four emirates, and committed to organizing a capacity-building workshop for members.
Who leads the NANTMP coalition in Kebbi State?
Alhaji Rilwanu Wasagu serves as the Kebbi State Chairman of the coalition.
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