Oluwafunbi Bello 
BAUCHI, Nigeria – Bauchi State authorities intensify enforcement against bush burning as environmental officials warn of worsening climate, health and agricultural consequences across communities.
The Director of Climate Change at the Bauchi State Ministry of Housing and Environment, Nasiru Umar, says uncontrolled bush burning has reached “alarming levels,” prompting urgent government action.
“The situation has deteriorated to a point where immediate intervention is unavoidable,” Umar tells journalists in Bauchi.
He identifies farmers, hunters and careless residents as the main drivers of the practice. Farmers frequently use fire to clear farmland, while hunters deliberately burn vegetation to flush out animals. Other incidents stem from improperly discarded cigarette butts and unsafe waste disposal.
Umar warns that bush burning releases harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, worsening air pollution and accelerating climate change.
“The destruction goes beyond smoke,” he explains. “Vegetation is a natural air purifier and climate regulator. Once destroyed, land is exposed to extreme heat, erosion and declining productivity.”
He adds that burning strips the soil of vital nutrients, destroys wildlife habitats and kills microorganisms essential for sustainable agriculture.
According to the ministry, exposed soil becomes vulnerable to erosion, flooding and reduced yields, threatening food security in rural communities already affected by climate stress.
In response, the state government expands community sensitisation programmes to educate residents on safer land-clearing and waste management alternatives.
Umar urges residents to abandon traditional burning practices and embrace environmentally responsible methods.
“Protecting our environment for future generations requires collective responsibility,” he says.
The campaign aligns with Nigeria’s broader climate commitments as states grapple with rising temperatures, desertification and environmental degradation.
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