News
RURCON Launches Tree Planting Campaign in Bokkos to Restore Environment and Empower Communities
In a significant move to restore the environment and strengthen community resilience, the Rural Development Counsellor for Christian Churches in Africa (RURCON) has launched a large-scale tree planting project in Maiyanga and Butura Company communities of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State.
The initiative is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP). Targeting 400 households, each family will plant at least six economic trees—primarily avocado seedlings—marking a dual effort toward environmental regeneration and economic empowerment in communities affected by past conflict and climate-related challenges.
At the ceremonial launch held in Maiyanga on Tuesday, August 5, the Director General of the Plateau State Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA), Mr. Samuel Dapiya, hailed the initiative as a “symbol of hope.”
“Beyond the planting of trees, this is about restoring life and livelihoods,” Dapiya said. “The environmental challenges here—from erosion caused by mining to recurring windstorms—require immediate and sustainable solutions. These trees will serve as windbreakers, protect biodiversity, improve air quality, and most importantly, inspire resilience in a community that has suffered so much.”
RURCON’s Executive Director, Mrs. Dinatu Ayizat, explained that the project was designed not only to green the environment but also to improve food security and economic stability.
“These are not just trees; they are fruit-bearing trees that will bring economic benefits to families,” Ayizat said. “We identified these communities following the 2023 Christmas attacks, which left many homes destroyed and the environment degraded. This initiative is our way of helping them rebuild—environmentally and economically.”
The tree planting effort is part of a broader package that includes training in climate-smart agriculture, organic farming, and the production of eco-friendly fuel alternatives like charcoal briquettes and energy-efficient cooking stoves. These interventions aim to combat deforestation, improve soil health, and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
RURCON’s Director of Programmes, Mr. Gado Seth Yashim, revealed that 1,500 avocado seedlings were distributed to each of the participating communities. To ensure sustainability, an accountability framework has been introduced, requiring the replacement of any dead seedling with eight new ones.
“These trees are both environmental assets and economic tools,” Yashim stated. “We want communities to take ownership, not just by planting but by nurturing them. Alongside this, we’ll be introducing organic composting, irrigation techniques, agroforestry, and livestock management as part of a comprehensive support package.”
The campaign began with a public awareness drive in Maikatako market, using banners, flyers, and community radio jingles to educate residents about the importance of the project. It is expected to extend to neighboring communities in the coming weeks.
Traditional leader Mr. Amos Jalang described the initiative as “timely and impactful,” stressing that the economic trees would contribute significantly to reviving local livelihoods.
Local residents, including Nanlop Enoch and Mashat Damla Abraham, expressed gratitude for the intervention, noting that the trees would not only serve as sources of food but also help prevent wind damage and enhance environmental sustainability.
Ward Councillor of Mandar Ward, Hon. Mahwash Tudu Ajasco, also praised RURCON and its partners for rekindling hope in the area.
“This kind of intervention doesn’t just plant trees; it plants faith back into the hearts of our people,” he said.
As the project progresses, RURCON and its partners have reaffirmed their commitment to environmental restoration, sustainable agriculture, and long-term community development across Plateau State.
A worker at Frankfurt Airport in Germany has died of malaria in a rare outbreak believed to have been caused by infected mosquitoes brought into the country on an aircraft.
Five other airport workers have also contracted the disease and are receiving medical treatment, according to the BBC.
The airport operator, Fraport, confirmed the death on Wednesday. “Sadly, we must confirm that one employee has died as a result of the infection,” a Fraport spokesperson told the BBC.
The outbreak is being investigated by Frankfurt’s Public Health Department, with officials trying to establish how the workers became infected.
The BBC reported that the six infected workers are men who work in different areas and perform different jobs at the airport. None is known to have travelled to a country where malaria is common.
German health authorities believe the infections may have been caused by mosquitoes brought into Germany on an aircraft. Mosquito traps have now been installed at the airport, while captured mosquitoes are being analysed to determine their species and origin.
Rare outbreak
The cases are described as “airport malaria”, a rare form of transmission that can occur when an infected mosquito is transported on an aircraft or in luggage and later bites people at or near an airport.
Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the country’s federal public health and disease control agency, said the first four workers became ill between 4 and 6 July.
The institute said malaria cases in Germany exclusively involve people who were infected while travelling to malaria-endemic areas, making transmission at a German airport unusual.
READ ALSO: WHO, Africa CDC warn of widening malaria funding gap in Africa
The last documented case of airport malaria at Frankfurt Airport was in 2023, the RKI said.
Frankfurt’s public health authorities have said the risk to the general population remains very low because malaria is not transmitted directly from person to person. It is spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
Malaria remains a major public health concern in Nigeria, although recent data show signs of progress.
In July, Malaria Consortium reported that malaria prevalence in Nigeria had fallen from 42 per cent in 2010 to 15.2 per cent in 2025.
Despite the decline, the organisation said Nigeria continues to carry one of the world’s heaviest malaria burdens, with children under five and pregnant women disproportionately affected.
Malaria is caused by parasites transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable, but can become severe or fatal when diagnosis and treatment are delayed.
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