Plant a tree, Fashola urges Lagosians

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Saturday led the fifth edition of the annual Tree Planting campaign at the Odi- Olowo/ Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area charging every resident to set a new target where every house in Lagos must have a tree in front or at its back.

The State Governor, who spoke at the Under Bridge Near Empire Hotel, Agege Motor Road, venue of the Campaign, taking place simultaneously across the State with the theme, “Plant a Tree for a better Climate” reiterated his call that everyone must take upon himself the task of policing the environment and ensuring that no one is allowed to cut down a tree without showing the permit to do so.

He said global warming and climate change is real and the world is also changing hence the people cannot afford but change with it, stating that what it requires is for everyone to embrace new adaptation methods and strategies.

He said the State Government has exceeded its projection on tree planting since the exercise started five years ago, adding that this has become imperative because trees act as a protection for neighbourhoods and against natural disasters.

The Governor noted that last year on the occasion of the commemoration of the tree planting day, it rained heavily but this year’s edition had not witnessed any heavy rainfall which is a reflection of the changing and revolving state of the world.

Governor Fashola said in the aftermath of the heavy rainfall of July 10 last year which resulted in flooding of some areas like some parts of Lekki, Arigbanla, Agege, Idi- Araba, the State Government went to work in some of the areas.

The outcome, he said, is that the solutions put in place have made much needed impact and are working such that there are no floods anymore in places like Lekki, Arigbanla, Agege and Idi- Araba.

An Ambassador of the Environment and landscape architect, Miss Faderera Williams said with the giant strides already recorded by Lagos State in the tree planting campaign exercise neighbouring states are coming to learn.

Prizes were also distributed to students who distinguished themselves in the “Me and My Tree Competition” with Miss Adeleye Oluwatoyin of State Senior High School, Alimosho placing third, Master Lara Promise of Vetland Senior Secondary School, Ifako- Ijaiye came second while Master Nwafor Chinoso of Kadara Junior Grammar School, Ebute- Metta came first.

In the teachers category, Mr Samuel Adeseye of State Senior High School, Alimosho emerged third, Mrs Mariam Akinlade of Vetland Senior Secondary School, Ifako- Ijaiye was second and Mr Oladosu Adebayo of Kadara Junior Grammar School, Ebute Metta emerged winner.

The ceremony was graced by the members of the State Executive Council including the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Dr Taofeek Folami and Special Adviser on Public Health, Dr(Mrs) Yewande Adeshina, members of the State House of Assembly like Hon Funmilayo Tejuosho and Hon Kabir Lawal and Chairman of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area, Hon Adeyemi Alli.

The Governor in company of the members of the State Executive Council and other dignitaries at the event later planted a tree to commemorate the 2012 tree planting exercise.