Environmental Degradation: Ambode Reads Riot Act To Residents, Private Developers Against Tree Felling

Lagos State Governor, Mr, Akinwunmi
Ambode has urged residents, particularly
private developers in the state to desist from
massive deforestation when clearing site for
housing and other infrastructural development,
saying that indiscriminate felling of trees in the state is a violation of existing rules and
regulations and would not hesitate to enforce it. Meantime, a total of 6,834,938 trees have been
planted across the state since the
commencement of yearly exercise of tree
planting 10 years ago. Ambode stated this at the 10th Tree Planting
Campaign Day, last Friday, organized by
Lagos State Parks and gardens Agency,
LASPARK, with the theme: ‘Think Green, Plant
Trees, Live Green’ held at Shasha
Recreational Park, Alimosho, Lagos. Ambode, represented by the Special Adviser
on the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Humpe,
however, said that in the event that a tree must
be removed to pave way for developmental
project, it must be done under the supervision
and direction of the LASPARK. He stated that this year’s campaign theme was
in line with the State Government
Environmental Sustainability Policy which in the
last two years has guided the present
administration actions on matters relating to the
environment. According to him, “In our determination to
sustain the tempo of greener Lagos, ensure
the sustainability of the Greening Initiative and
create more avenues for relaxation and family
bonding, all parks and gardens in the 20 Local
Government Areas and the 37 Local Council Development Areas would be resuscitated to
complement the efforts of the Lagos State
Parks and Gardens Agency.” He added that 570 newly trained youths had
been empowered to jump-start the greening
programme at the Local Government level. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode stressed that
the yearly exercise which has earned the State
national and global recognition had planted
over 6,834,938 trees over a period of 10
years. ‘To mark this year’s tree planning day, we are
adding another 500,000 trees which will be
planted simultaneously in 78 locations across
the State’, he added.
In his words, “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”. While appreciating individuals, organisations,
groups that have been partnering with the state
in tree planting, Ambode called on the people
of the state to imbibe the culture of planting
trees, pointing out that planting of trees is one
of the cheapest and easiest ways to preserve mother earth and combat the ravaging effect
of climate change. Earlier, Commissioner for the Environment Dr.
Babatunde Adejare, said that the state is
appreciative of the importance of the major
role of tree planting, hence has remained in the
forefront of environmental regeneration
through its commitment to the proliferation of trees and green areas in the State. The commissioner, who was represented by
the Sole Administrator of Bariga LCDA, Prince
Sanya Oshijo, called on residents to team up
with the Government and work for the
realization of its development sector and
sustainable goals, particularly as it relates to the reform in the environmental sector.