PREAMBLE
The Katsina State Ministry of Environment was established in July 2011 through the upgrading of the defunct Department of Environment and vested with the responsibility of implementing environmental programmes for the control and mitigation of desertification, deforestation, pollution, erosion and flood effects across the nooks and crannies of Katsina State. Other functions include the diagnosis, control and management of Dam spillage, structural breakage, emergencies and other related matters.
The Ministry is head by a Commissioner, who is a portfolio member of the State Executive Council. The Permanent Secretary, who reports to the Commissioner, is ministry’s Accounting Officer being supported by the six (6) established key departments of Ecological Services (Ecology), Waste Management and Environmental Assessments, Drought and Desertification Control, Administration and Supply, Finance and Accounts and Planning, Research and Statistics.
In addition to the six (6) departments, two parastatals and a project are under the supervision of the ministry namely: the State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), State Erosion and Watershed Management Agency (EWMA) and the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
In 2015 when His Excellency, Rt. Honourable Aminu Bello Masari, CFR; the Governor of Katsina State took over the mantle of leadership, he pledged that “Education, Agriculture, Water Supply, Health and Youth Empowerment shall be given priority attention by the Administration”.
However, he has always believed that safe, clean and sanitized environment is necessary to attaining quality education, improved and sustainable agricultural production, availability and quality of water resources, improved hygiene, good health and poverty reduction.
Thus, when he appointed Alhaji Hamza Suleiman Faskari as the Commissioner for Environment little did the populace understand the choice until his achievements begin to speak volumes proving that he is indeed a round peg in a round hole. His astute leadership qualities coupled with excellent advocacy skills ensured that he changed the near comatose way and manner the ministry was operating to a pro-active and vibrant ministry earning the priority attention of the Government and Development Partners.
Hon. Hamza Suleiman Faskari was born in Faskari town, Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State. His family members are popular and respected due to their humbleness, compassion, educational attainment and community service. He attended Faskari Model Primary School, Government Science Secondary School Dutsin-Ma (where he obtained SSCCE), passed the IJMB from College of Advanced Studies (now Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic), Zaria and proceeded to the prestigious Bayero University, Kano, where in the year 2004, he graduated with Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. On completion of his NYSC Programme, and in order to meet up with the current challenges of information technology, Hon. Hamza Suleiman Faskari obtained Intensive Certificate in Computer from same Bayero University, Kano and later enrolled and obtained Masters Degree in Public Policy and Administration from his alma mater in the year 2008.
Hon. Hamza Suleiman Faskari joined the Federal Civil Service in the year 2009 as Administrative Officer in-charge of South-East Zone, State Coordination Department of the Federal Character Commission. In 2011 he was appointed as Special Assistant to the Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Abu Ibrahim, National Assembly, Abuja.
In the political arena, the name of Hon. Hamza Suleiman Faskari is certainly the most pronounced within the entire Funtua Senatorial District. This is as a result of his commitment and contributions in spreading and defending the ideals of the All Progressive Congress (APC). However, his network of political allies, associates and friends cuts across the entire Katsina State and the North-West Zone.
It was in recognition of his academic resourcefulness, community services and political contributions at Local Government, State and Federal levels that resulted in successes at 2015 General Election, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari CFR, appointed Hon. Hamza Suleiman Faskari as Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Environment, Katsina State in year 2015.
During his first term in office, Hon. Hamza Suleiman Faskari transformed the Ministry of Environment both in scope and quality of its activities. The successes recorded in steering the affairs of the Environment Sector earned him the confidence and trust of Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari CFR who graciously
reappointed him for the second term as Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Environment.
RESTORATION EFFORTS UNDER THE APC LED ADMINISTRATION
From 2015 to date, the State Government through the Ministry of Environment has invested over N40 Billion through stepped up efforts and strategies in addressing the ecological challenges of drought, flood, erosion, waste management and climate change effects that have hitherto continue to endanger the lives of the citizenry and also impact negatively on our healthy well-being, agricultural farmlands, access roads, hydraulic structures and other facilities (including schools and health units).
The various interventions include:
Flood and Erosion Control
Reactivation of operation of the State Ecological Fund Law No. 5 of 2005 (amended 2014) which provides for statutory deductions of not less than 2% of monthly allocations due to the State and the 34 Local Governments from the Federal allocation to address ecological challenges across the nooks and crannies of the State. The Law recognises the Ecological Fund Committee with the Honourable Commissioner of Environment as Chairman and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment as Secretary.
The Ministry has carried out needs assessments in several communities prone to ecological issues across the state and presented recommendations to the fund for the phasing of interventions in view of financial constraints and competing demands. For the first time since its establishment, the fund simultaneously executed interventions in all the 34LGAs.
The ministry undertook four phases of interventions (Phase V is on-going in 42 sites) for the construction of flood and erosion control structures in 164 sites covering over 200 communities.
