FCTA, residents plant 3,000 tree seedlings to curb desertification

The Federal Capital Territory Administration and residents in the territory have planted 3,000 tree seedlings since the commencement of this year’s Tree Planting Campaign.
The tree planting campaign was launched on Thursday by the Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, in Ushafa, Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
The minister, who confirmed this in a statement on Monday by her Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Oluyinka Akintunde, said 2,200 tree seedlings were planted by the Administration through its Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat.
She noted that additional 800 tree seedlings were given to members of the public for further planting in their areas of abode.
Akinjide explained that tree planting had become necessary to tackle environmental challenges such as erosion, flooding and desertification threatening several nations including Nigeria.
She said: “The current global environmental challenges such as erosion, flooding and desertification, among others that are directly threatening Nigeria now call for aggressive sensitization on tree planting since it is the only known natural solution to curbing the menace.
“The negative effect of this is the colossal waste of lives, properties and even agricultural crops which is a bad signal to food security, an essential part of Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda.”
Akinjide assured the people that the FCT Administration was committed to providing a secured and safe environment to all residents and visitors, and appealed to them to imbibe the culture of planting trees around their homes.
“Tree planting is a continuous and daily exercise if we are to make any meaningful impact in curbing the menace of environmental degradation,” she added.
The minister warned developers and residents against distorting the Abuja Master Plan, noting that the FCT Administration would ensure strict compliance with the approved land use master-plan.
She advised developers and individuals to desist from building on designated green areas as well as flood and disaster prone areas.
The Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mrs. Olvadi Bema Madayi, disclosed that Forestry Sub-sector of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat was currently executing some projects to mitigate the effects of erosion, landslides and flood.
Madayi listed the projects as watershed management, afforestation, and FCT boundary planting.
Madayi said: “To ensure sustainable tree planting programme in FCT, the Forestry Unit has established three Forest Nurseries in Bako, Kwali Area Council; Karshi in Municipal Area Council, and Bwari in Bwari Area Council of FCT.
“The assorted seedlings raised in these Nurseries are distributed free to FCT residents, religious organizations and various Non-governmental organizations. We need to imbibe the healthy habit of planting at least five trees whenever we remove one. The habit will not only beautify our environment but will save the environment from the evil of deforestation.”