Lagos State observes annual tree planting campaign today

Governor Ambode planting tree

Top officials of the Lagos State government have converged in the Ipaja area of the State, to perform the annual tree planting initiative of the state government.

The 14 of July every year is set aside by Lagos State to plant trees as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of global warming and climate change.

Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode in an occasion on the eve of the tree planting day, urged residents of the state to imbibe the culture of planting trees to restore the dignity of the earth.

Ambode gave the advice on Tuesday at the Government Technical College, Ikotun, where he flagged off the tree planting day.

He said,``The importance of trees in sustaining human life through the purification of the air that we breathe in cannot be over emphasized”.

``We must desist from indiscriminate felling of trees; and for every tree that must be removed, at least five must be planted”.

According to the Ambode, climate change and the effects on human life are real; so also is the vulnerability of the state.

``Statistics and projections about the impact of climate change on the earth planet, particularly the gradual depletion of the rainforest, reinforce the need for all hands to be on deck.

``The tree planting exercise remains one of the cheapest options as one of the strategies that have been put in place to tackle the effects of climate change,” he said.

Ambode commended the efforts of the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) in its advocacy activities that have resulted in the planting of about 5.9 million trees.

The governor also noted that over 96, 000 jobs had been created for all categories of artisans and professionals.

The News Agency of Nigeria, reported that tree planting campaign of the Lagos State government began in 2008.