We’ve planted 6.8 million trees in 10 years – Ambode

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday disclosed that 6.8 million trees have been planted in the state in the last 10 years.

The governor spoke at the 10th anniversary of Tree Planting Campaign, organised by the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK), held at Shasha area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

The tree planting campaign held at 10 different locations simultaneously within the Lagos metropolis.

The governor said it had been a decade of sustained commitment to this yearly exercise which had earned the State national and global recognition.

“As at today, a total of 6,834,938 trees have been planted state wide. To mark this year’s Tree Planting day, we are adding another 500,000 trees which will be planted simultaneously in 78 locations across the State. We must remember that trees are essential to human existence as they provide food, shelter, remedy for ill health, source of energy, and also help to control storm water runoffs, noise pollution and prevent desert encroachment.

“If we must continue to live in good health, planting of trees would not only be an option but a strategy that must be embraced by all. This is because planting of trees is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to preserve mother earth and combat the ravaging effect of climate change,” said Ambode, who was represented by his Special Adviser on the Environment, Babatunde Hunpe.

He said in government’s determination to sustain the tempo of greener Lagos, ensure the sustainability of the Greening Initiative and create more avenues for relaxation and family bonding, he had directed that Parks and Gardens Unit be resuscitated in all the 20 Local Government Areas and the 37 Local Council Development Areas to complement the efforts of the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK).

“In addition,570 newly trained youths have been empowered to jump-start the greening programme at the Local Government level,” he said, while urging private partners to sustain their support for the programme so that together, “we can achieve our objective to mitigate the effects of climate change and make our cities and communities more healthy and livable.”

Ambode called on private developers in the State to support this campaign by desisting from massive deforestation in the name of site clearance for housing and infrastructural development.

“Indiscriminate felling of trees in Lagos State is a violation of existing rules and regulations. In the event that trees must be removed to pave way for developmental project, it must be done under the supervision and direction of the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency,” he said.

Speaking, Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Samuel Adejare said the government remained steadfastly committed to placing Lagos State on the map of sustainable environment champions of the world.

“It is noteworthy that your proactive administration planted over 1,500,000 trees in 2016 alone, thereby bringing the total of trees planted in the State to 6.8 million. I hereby urge you to team up with the government and work for the realisation of its development agenda and sustainable goals, particularly as it relates to the reforms in the environment sector where the people are the direct beneficiary of 27,500 new jobs, a cleaner state, and all-year-round drainage management for effective and efficient flood control, among others,” he said.