Lagos To Plant .5m Trees

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Lagos State Government targets planting 500,000 trees this year, as it gets set to mark the second anniversary of the tree planning campaign.

The second anniversary of the campaign is 14 July, 2009 and will be marked by tree planting by Governor Babatunde Fashola and other top dignitaries.

At least, one million and over 10 species of trees are expected to be planted this year alone across the state.

Speaking at a news conference today to herald the tree planting campaign, Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire, said some of the species to be planted are Pinus Carribea, Casuarina, Lagostromia, Yellow Phyens, Lypia, Neem, Terbebao, Delonix and Palm.

According to Banire, the plants were carefully selected to suit the soil texture, the underground facilities and other infrastructure around where they would be planted in order to ensure their survival and avoid damage to other facilities.

He said the tree planting campaign had been decentralized and that various government leaders and dignitaries would lead the campaign in different places.

Banire stated that Fashola will lead the tree planting campaign at Mobil Road, Ajegunle, the Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Sosan, will head the campaign at Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, while Mrs. Abimbola Fashola will lead the campaign at Oworonsoki-Oshodi Road and the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, will lead the campaign at Oba Ogunji Road, Agege.

The Deputy Speaker, Funmi Tejuosho, will lead the campaign at the University of Lagos, while Federal Legislators from Lagos State, members of the State House of Assemblys, among others are expected to lead the campaign in various parts of the state.

The commissioner called on the media to partner with the state government in creating awareness about the trees planning campaign.