SOLUDO LAUNCHES ONE MILLION TREE PLANTING WEEK AS EXPERT PROPOSES SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE PROTECTION LAW IN ANAMBRA
REPORTERS: BEN ILECHUKWU &
PAMELA IGWE
The Anambra State Government has commenced campaign on planting of one million trees across the state this week.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who performed the symbolic tree planting in commemoration of the 2022 World Environment Day, at Government Lodge in Amawbia, restated his administration’s resolve for a sustainable and environmentally friendly state for the citizens.
The World Environment Day, as championed by the United Nations, is celebrated on June 5 every year to raise awareness about the degrading environmental conditions and to encourage people globally to take positive actions that will help to create a greater and better future.
Governor Soludo, while performing the tree planting ceremony at Governor’s Lodge, explained that the initiative was more significant to the state because of its serious flooding and erosion challenges.
Prof. Soludo harped on the need to sensitize the public to the need to create a healthy environment.
He noted that the distribution and planting of one million palm seedlings as well as five hundred thousand coconut seedlings to farmers this week, is a way of renewing the old days of agriculture, which was the main stay of the economy.
Governor Soludo, while expressing dismay by the indiscriminate cutting of trees in different parts of the state, charged every household to join hands in the tree planting campaign, which he noted would help to preserve the ecosystem and curtail erosion in the area.
The Governor, who enjoined citizens to keep their environment clean and green, also encouraged them to contain floodwater within their compounds to prevent the runoff that causes soil degradation and flooding.
He said his administration had also mapped out measures for waste disposal.
In an interview, the Commissioner for information, Mr. Paul Nwosu, noted that the target of planting of one million trees would be achievable if the citizens bought into the initiative.
Radio Nigeria also observed that the wife of the Governor also planted a tree on the occasion.
Earlier at the event, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Felix Odimegwu, noted that the occasion was designed in line with the Governor’s environmental development agenda, which sought to ensure that every household planted at least two trees within the compound.
The Commissioner explained that part of Governor Soludo’s initiation of “operation one house, two trees” was aimed at stopping erosion menace in the area.
Also, Mr. Odimegwu had earlier in a programme held at Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka to commemorate World Environment Day, said that Anambra State has over one thousand erosion sites and urged citizens to be actively involved in the tree planting, to preserve the earth.
According to the Commissioner, it is important to nurture the earth and environment so that they can in turn take care of mankind.
In a paper presentation, a former Director, Ministry of Environment, Dr. Emmanuel Obiano, explained that any development that was not environmentally sustainable was not desirable.
Dr. Obiano called on the Anambra State House of Assembly to enact a special Environmental Resource Protection Law and place all natural resources under protected status.
He advised the state government to recruit more environmental officers to salvage the situation.
Another resource person and professor of Environmental Management and Pollution Control, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Professor Anthony Okoye, said in terms of prioritisation of the environment issues of Anambra state, erosion and waste management were both of high priority.
Professor Okoye emphasised that government had a major role to play to protect the environment, urging them to carry out aggressive environmental sensitization for proper awareness on all environmental problems including climate change, flooding and deforestation.
The Anambra State Governor, who was represented by the Head of civil service, Mrs. Theodore Ekwi Igwegbe, noted that the soil in the state is prone to erosion and called on the people to start planting trees to save the environment from erosion.
The event was attended by traditional rulers, Presidents-General, health workers and environmental experts.
