Over three million trees have been planted in different parts of Lagos State since 2009 when the tree planting campaign was introduced by Governor Babatunde Fashola.
The governor disclosed this on Saturday during the 2012 tree planting campaign, which was commemorated throughout the state with symbolic planting of trees by various officials of the state and local governments in different locations.
At the Mushin-Ojuelegba flyover where he performed the tree planting exercise, Fashola said, “At the first anniversary of the tree planting exercise in 2009, I confidently mentioned that considering the success of the exercise, that we were likely to surpass our initial plan to plant one million at the end of four years. We have now planted over three million trees in four years.
“This is a feat of 12 years achieved within four years due to the commitment and passion of the government and members of the communities in this direction.”
The governor said many open spaces hitherto regarded as wetland and occupied by illegal occupants had been reclaimed, with many of the road medians, verges and setbacks now avenues of trees, which were helping in cleansing the air around the various neighbourhoods.
“In relation to the tree planting campaign is our landscaped and beautified sites, which have afforded visitors, technocrats, expatriates, retired elders and young ones the opportunity to experience the beauty of nature,” Fashola said.
According to the governor, apart from life that trees give, they are known to be very useful in sinking carbon dioxide, a major contributor to greenhouse gases, and replenishing the air with oxygen and improve the aesthetic nature of the environment.
The Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the Lagos environment had witnessed tremendous transformation that had earned it local and international recognitions.
Bello said, “Trees create vital habitat and promote biodiversity; abundant forests do not just enhance lives, they save lives. Planting trees and other vegetation expands the urban forest, creates wildlife habitat and improves storm water management, making communities more pleasant to live in.
“Trees also reduce greenhouse effect by shading houses and office buildings. This reduces the need for air conditioning by up to 30 per cent, which in turn reduces the amount of fossil fuels burned to produce electricity.”
At another event in Ogudu, the Commissioner of Housing, Mr. Bosun Jeje, said because of the crucial roles being played by trees in the ecosystem, the government had made it mandatory that trees must be planted in all its estates by the residents’ associations.
Where the associations were unable to implement the directive to the satisfaction of the government, he said his ministry would come in and take it up from there.
At another event at the Olushosun landfill in Ojota, the Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority, Mr. Ola Oresanya, said the state government had commenced the process of turning the site into an eco-park with the reclamation of significant portion of the vast land area, which had been turned into lush green lawns.
The eco-park, according to him, will be used for eco-tourism and will have among other facilities a love garden, golf course, facilities for renewable energy like electricity generation from solar panels and methane gas, trees and green lawns.
He also said the government was working on designating some areas within the state for the planting of fruit trees instead of ornamental ones so that members of the public would have the opportunity of eating freshly plucked fruits.
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