Ambode, wife harp on preservation of environment

As part of the efforts to mitigate the negative impact of global warming and other environmental challenges, the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and his wife, Bolanle Tuesday appealed to the 21 million residents in the state to do everything possible for the preservation of the environment.

To save the state from the negative effect of climate change, the governor urged the residents to emulate the culture of tree planting, describing it as the cheapest and the simplest option to preserve the lungs of the earth.

Flagging off the 2015 Tree Planting Day at Government Technical College, Ikotun, Governor Ambode said that climate change and its effect of human lives is real,  saying that the its vulnerability on the state is also real as coastal city.

The Governor described theme of the annual event entitled: “Tree, the lungs of the earth”,  as apt, saying it clearly underscores the importance of the trees in sustaining human life through the purification of the air that human being  breathe in.

He said:”Climate change and its effect on human lives is real; so also is the vulnerability of our state. All statistic 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. This tree planting exercise, which remains the cheapest and simplest option, is one of the strategies that have been put in place to tackle this challenge.

“I would like to enjoin all Lagosians to embrace tree planting as a way of life in order to restore the dignity of the earth. We must desist from indiscriminate felling of trees and for every tree that must be removed; at least five must be planted.”

The governor added that over 5.9 million trees have so far been planted in the state in the exercise which took place simultaneously in 180 locations across the state, adding that the exercise has created over 96,000 jobs in all categories of artisans and professionals.

Earlier, the Permanent  ‎Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, Mr Hakeem Ogunbambi, said that the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, LASPARK has outlawed felling or pruning  of trees without permission from the agency, walking on lawns and gardens instead of designated walkways, grazing of animals in green areas, illegal digging across parks and gardens from laying of cables as well as failure to beautify perimeter of properties among others.

Also speaking tree planting at Lagos City College, Yaba, the wife of the state Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode said that it has been proven that the world needs billions of trees annually for survival, urging every citizen  to‎ make effort to plant a tree as there is no way man can exist if there were no trees.