The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency on Tuesday said cutting down trees, especially those planted by the agency, without permission attracts payment of fine and restoration fees.
The Public Relations Officer of LASPARK, Sanusi Olajide, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that it was still illegal to cut down trees in the state.
According to Olajide, it is only the electricity organisation that has the mandate of the agency to trim trees that are disturbing electrical tension wires.
He said: “People are being arrested and prosecuted for illegal felling of trees in the state, especially trees planted by the agency.
“The agency has a monitoring, enforcement and compliant department that fully engages on daily basis in ensuring that trees are not cut down indiscriminately.
“The department has been making arrests, which include vehicles that run into our parks and gardens.
“The penalty has been payment of fine and restoration fee, which depends on the extent of damage.”
Olajide said many artisans working on road setbacks have fallen victims and they have paid fine, including restoration fees.
He said when vulcanisers were arrested for disturbing the trees, they were released after their association pleaded on their behalf that they were ignorant of the consequences of their actions.
Olajide said the agency had to organise enlightenment awareness programmes to educate them on the importance of trees as well as on the need to plant more instead of destroying them.
He said the agency was mindful of its investments in tree planting across the state and was working hard to ensure that the trees were not destroyed in any way.
NAN.