Time is 8: 30 AM and the snarling traffic which accompanies the early morning ‘rush hour’ at Agege motor road shows no sign of abetting.
The road, a central connecting route in Mushin Local Government Area, one of the densely populated urban slum districts in Lagos mainland is lined up with vehicles of all sizes. Due to the bad state of some of the vehicles, they ooze out fumes from their combustive engines.
Looking beyond the quagmire, one catches the sight of exotic trees planted on both sides of the road. The array of the trees cast a greenish splendor which makes for a picturesque view even in the mist of rowdiness.
For an area notorious for its vehicular chaos and scenic eyesore, the trees stand as pearls. For some residents, the beauty redeems sanity for their eyes and minds.
While many have taken ownership of the trees planted by the Lagos State Parks and Garden Agency; cleaning and weeding them when the high way managers fail to show up, a few others see it as a distraction.
Others think the aesthetics stand in the way of profit as it competes for space with road side traders.
Adeolu Adekunle, 37, a cobbler is one of such persons. With a shop adjacent to one of the trees, he has taken the opportunity of the vantage position to advertise his goods.
Although the import of the tree as an initiative to adapt to climate change is lost on him, Adeolu still praised the idea with irony. It has helped in beautifying the environment, he admits, and also allows him to breathe a fresher air.
However, he was quick to add that government should save the trees ambience for commerce.
Does he compromise the tree by displaying his wares on them? He reacts; “This tree is planted in front of my shop so I have to sweep and even weed the surroundings. If I then use it to advertise my wares, I think it is a reward for my labour”, he said betraying no sense of remorse.
For Bayo Ibrahim, a pool agent on the same Agege motor road who confessed to not having heard of climate change, he also shares the view that the trees has helped to uplift the environment. He shares a reservation about the project though.
“These trees make this place colorful and finer. However, I am not happy that all they plant is flowers. If I can at least get fruits, it would compensate for having to clean up this place since the government cleaners are not usually prompt with their services. The trees are not sitting on our heads but we should be able to feed on them,” Ibrahim added.
On what informs the choice of the species of trees planted, the head of the Tree planting unit of the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, Ms. Toyin Uyo, said the choice is made based on the space available and the soil texture. The fruit bearing trees, she added are limited to schools where prizes are also initiated for students to plant trees.
Adanma Onwe, a 15 year-old student of Clegg Girls Senior High School, Surulere affirmed to the popularity of the tree planting culture among school children.
“We planted new trees in my school two months ago. Now, all students participate in watering them every morning because we were told the trees are good for our health and the environment. Green plants supply photosynthesis”. She told The Nation.
Unlike the Lagos of yore when arrays of beautiful trees are usually sighted in highbrows’ areas formerly occupied by colonialists; trees are now adorning streets and highways of even densely populated areas. The development has led to a beautification of the environment, making Lagos a greener and finer city.
Far from the thought of the thinking of the majority, the trees are not primarily aimed at aesthetics but as a means of adapting to the effect of climate change in the state.
In 2009, the state government under the leadership of Babatunde Fashola created the Lagos State Parks and Garden Agency (LASPARK). The agency is charged with the task of creating awareness about the importance of planting trees not only as an object of beautification but to act as carbon sinks for green house emission. Now, the agency has succeeded in converting open spaces and loops that were hideouts for criminals to green parks. There are about 170 of such parksij all over the states. Also, over 4.3 million trees have been planted in the last six years. There is a future projection to plant 5 million more trees by 2020.
The economic importance is not lost on the residents. The initiative has opened doors of employment for gardeners, park attendants and guards. It is also a booming time for horticulturists who sell their seedlings to the agency, corporate organizations and other individuals wanting to plant trees.
“Gone are the days when we could succinctly draw a line between the rainy season and dry season; gone are the days when harvest was predictable and bountiful; gone were the days when select species of certain fish were readily available on the menu table”. The quote, attributed to Babatunde Fashola, at the maiden edition of the annual international climate change summit in Lagos in 2009, appears to drive the actions on agitated tree planting campaign in the city which houses over 20 million people.
It is not yet Uhuru for the project as majority of the residents are yet to realize that the trees are beyond aesthetics.
The awareness of climate change adaptation especially among the masses is pathetically poor.
