By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Lagos State Government has concluded plans to plant 12 million trees in another four years. Commissioner of the environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare revealed that the state government planned to set examples to other states by planting between 600, 000 to one million trees yearly.

Meanwhile, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, has urged the Federal Government to establish an agency saddled with the responsibility of climate change challenges and issues in the country.

Ibrahim made the appeal during the presentation of South West Ambassador of Nigeria Goes Green to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, in Alausa, Ikeja, recently. The chairman stressed that the government also needed to increase public awareness, promote research and fund climate change projects in Nigeria for sustainable solution.

Ibrahim, who was represented by Prince Ade Adewunmi identified persistent droughts and flooding, off season rains, dry spells and fewer water supplies as such factors effecting climate change in Nigeria.

To combat the effects of climate change, the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Goes Green, Mr. Dare Adenekan stressed the need for Nigerians to plant at least two billion trees yearly.

He commended the Lagos State government for planting over 6.8 million trees in the last few years adding that the planet earth needs about 87 billion trees to curb the effects of climate change.  Adenekan therefore, urged individuals and organisations to lessen the burden on the government by planting a tree in their respective houses and workplace.