The Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources in conjunction with the Lagos State Parks and Garden Agency (LASPARK), weekend, commemorated the Year 2024 Tree Planting Day in Lagos Mainland Local Government.
The event, which was in line with the Lagos State Government’s THEMES+ Agenda, was held at Mount Carmel Primary School Ebute Metta and had the theme: “NURTURE OUR FUTURE,” which was borne out of the need to protect and prevent the environment for future generations.
Speaking o the occasion, the Executive Chairman, Lagos Mainland Local Government, Hon. Omolola Rashidat Essien, told the audience that included council officials, CDA chairman, students and pupils that climate change causes an increase in earth’s temperature, which has been increasing steadily since the 1980s, resulting in excessive heat, variation in rainfall pattern, flood etc.
“To mitigate against climate change, we need to conserve energy, use renewable energy sources, use electric cars; (while) conservation and restoration of forests in form of tree planting remains the easiest and cheapest method in combating climate change”.
She thus implored all to show more concern to nurturing our future through tree planting in their various spaces.
Insurance giant AXA Mansard has announced its partnership with the Lagos State Government as the state prepares to conduct the 2019 Tree Planting Exercise.
A statement by the firm stated that the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, LASPARK 2019 Tree Planting exercise will hold on July 14, 2019 with the theme: “Clean and green is our perfect dream”.
The event is billed to hold across all the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
AXA Mansard Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, Mr Kola Oni said insurance companies are in a privileged position to enhance knowledge on climate risks in order to better understand and tackle climate change.
The statement said: “AXA Mansard is also aware of the role it can play in promoting environmental protection awareness amongst its stakeholders, contributing to improving the understanding of global and local environmental risks, and committing to addressing climate change.
“The Lagos State Government in 2012, committed to an internationally recognised tree planting programme to plant 10 million trees by 2020. This commitment is based on the fact that tree planting remains one of the most effective ways of absorbing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane that are harmful to the environment from the atmosphere. The Initiative is therefore aimed at improving environmental sustainability in Nigeria.
“As both a responsible insurer and an environmentally responsible corporation, AXA Mansard has a responsibility to leverage its expertise and take action to reduce climate risks; supporting this initiative will enable us perform this responsibility successfully.”
LASPARK General Manager, Mrs Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola noted that the exercise is a universally progressive idea to integrate private bodies into government policies and programmes in order to achieve a broad and enduring legacy, adding that tree is a significant accessory to mental and physical comfort.
Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) General Manager (GM) Mrs. Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, has urged Lagosians to improve the value of their social lives through recreation.
In a statement yesterday, Adebiyi-Abiola described recreation as an integral concept of human survival and an innate indulgence that people should not deprive themselves of.
Recreational parks were established to enliven the social and economic lives of citizens, she said.
The giant strides of the present administration in infrastructural renewal and development, she noted, could only be appreciated when the facilities were utilised.
The GM restated the agency’s determination to make the state’s recreational parks hot spots for leisure and entertainment, saying such gatherings provide a good atmosphere to consummate personal relationships and make contacts.
Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, (LASPARK) General Manager Mrs. Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola has called on the Green Partners of the state to support the government’s Christmas decoration by beautifying and lighting up the sites adopted by their organisations.
Acknowledging the contributions of some of its partners who had embraced the Christmas lighting and decoration project of the state government, Adebiyi-Abiola, appealed to others to key into the project as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and tp add glamour to the Yuletide festivities.
She acknowledged the roles of all the environmentally friendly organisations towards the sustainability of the greening programme in the state and noted that more efforts were needed.
‘One mitigating measure against the adverse effect of climate change and global warming is to increase the green cover immensely and this can only be achieved through conscious, intensive and aggressive landscaping, beautification and tree planting activities which our partners have keyed into’, Adebiyi-Abiola said.
The GM, who spoke at a meeting with the agency’s stakeholders in her office, revealed that the meeting afforded her the opportunity to understand some of the challenges faced by partners and assured them that she would look into the identified challenges and see how best to collaborate to continuously improve the living environment and wellbeing of Lagosians through landscaping, beautification and tree planting.
“Your immeasurable financial and material contributions in nurturing and keeping the adopted sites green and clean cannot be overemphasised. I enjoin you to do more so that we can bequeath an enviable environment to the generation yet unborn,” she said.
Present at the meeting were representatives of Zenith Bank, Fidelity Bank, Sterling Bank, Kiosque Vegetal, Shodex Gardens, F-Plus, Chevron Nigeria, Nigerian Bottling Company, among others.
Determined to ensure a safer environment, especially in the wake of climate change, all estates being developed in Lagos State will now have to have green area, especially with trees planted.
This was the submission of the General Manager of the Lagos State Parks and Gardens (LASPARK), Mrs. Bilikiss Abiola. She spoke at the tree planting ceremony of a housing developer, Reliance Gardens, in Ajah, last week.
According to the LASPARK boss, the agency will henceforth monitor all estates being developed in the state to ensure there is proper “green cover.” This, she further said, is now a huge aspect of housing.
“We will be monitoring all estates in the state to ensure we have green cover. It is a huge aspect of housing. You don’t just put a building, you must ensure its greenery. Our ideal is to promote good living through greenery and we are determined to ensure a greener and healthier state with private sector organisation,” Abiola said.
While praising the Reliance Gardens management for its efforts in greening of the state, Abiola revealed that the firm had earlier partnered with her agency to plant 700 coconut trees along the Lekki-Ajah expressway.
She, therefore, urged other estate developers to ensure that they have green locations within their estate, because it has now become a very important component of any estate that is being developed to have a green area that is set aside for a park and garden for people living within that area to enjoy.
Laspark, she further said, is committed to greening Lagos because “that is the only way we can secure the future of our children. If we don’t have greenery, a healthy and thriving ecosystem, it will directly affect our health and future of our children.”
In a similar vein, the Head of Tree planting, Laspark, Mrs. Funke Dawodu, disclosed that the firm has always been a worthy partner of the agency. For instance, Dawodu revealed that Reliance Gardens collaborated with LASPARK on the school advocacy programme for the tree planting day celebration by branding school pupils for that day.
She regrets that the several trees that have been felled in the past without replacing them is a key factor that has led to climate change. “Tree felling is a major reason for climate change. The importance of trees are numerous. Without trees we cannot survive. Trees supply us with oxygen,” Dawodu said.
She also praised the firm for deeming it fit to approach LASPARK before commencing work on the construction of their estate especially knowing that some trees will be felled in the process of development.
“They gave us a pledge that they would replace tress felled with multiples and today they are fulfilling their pledge. Please plant trees to commemorate events as it is a show of commitment to greenery, “ she admonished the audience.
The Group Chief executive officer of Reliance Gardens, Mr. Kishin Wadhwani, said his firm is committed to ensuring that the environment remain habitable for mankind. Besides, he explained that as a responsible corporate citizen, laws of the state must be adhered to; hence, the reason for the partnership with the agency.
The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) has reached an agreement with the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) on the payment of ground rent on billboards installed in any of its parks or gardens.
The agreement was reached at a meeting between officials of the association and LASPARK General Manager Mrs. Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola at LASPARK’s head office in Agidingbi, Ikeja.
The General Manager, who praised the association for its commitment to paying the ground rent, Said the fee was not an additional charge by the state government as claimed by the association.
“The payment to the Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA) is an advertising permit fee, which is statutory while the charges from LASPARK is purely a fee for placing billboards on the agency’s beautified and landscaped sites,” she explained.
Responding to some issues raised by the association, Adebiyi-Abiola stated that, over the years, the agency’s management had reduced the ground rent twice, hence, asking for further reduction would not be tenable considering the concession the agency had granted OAAN. Full enforcement for payment of the fee began yesterday.
The GM reminded OAAN that the agency had been magnanimous, noting that the issue had been lingering for the more than two years. Adebiyi-Abiola enjoined OAAN to collaborate more with the agency towards making the environment a better place to live.
The General Secretary of the association, Mr. Femi Ogala, who had earlier sought for justification for the ground rental fee, pleaded with LASPARK to make the fee more affordable for members of the association. Ogala, while thanking the management of LASPARK, promised that the executive would reach out to other members of the association to ensure total compliance with the payment.
He appealed to the agency to always consult the association on all issues that would impact the already existing relationship between the agency and the association.
Lagos State Government on Wednesday announced the restriction of the inter-state buses and vehicles from going beyond Ojodu Berger and Ojota Motor Parks.
The State Government also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the operators of all Parks on Ikorodu Road to relocate to the designated inter-state motor parks at Ojodu Bergerand Ojota, after which stiff sanction would apply to defaulters.
Speaking after embarking on a joint inspection tour of ongoing construction of Modern Bus Terminal at Yaba and the beautification project at Jibowu, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde said the decision of the government was in line with the determination of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration to free the city of avoidable nuisances and install sanity and civility in the environment.
He said the inspection was a follow-up to an earlier visit by the Governor to the area, adding that all the necessary quit notices have already been served on the affected operators.
He said: “This is a follow-up on the visit of Governor Ambode to this axis last night and was very displeased with what he saw particularly in the manner with which long buses, inter-state buses are using the main town and what we have done so far is the initial announcement to say that henceforth, we will no longer allow inter-state buses to be along Ikorodu Road.
“Henceforth, they will have to go to Ojota and Ojodu Berger which are the two designated inter-state motor parks. The ones that we have here in Jibowu will have to move and there is a 7-day ultimatum for everyone of them beginning from the ones in this axis to move,” Ayorinde said.
Lagos interstate Buses
Speaking on the reason for the ban, the Commissioner said activities of the operators had not been tidy and decent despite repeated warnings, and that government could no longer sit and watch such to continue in the overall interest of the people.
He said: “Take for instance, the new Jersey Barricades here are being destroyed and they are built with taxpayers money. Yes, the initial accident was caused by a vehicle but we have seen people showing disrespect to taxpayers money and that we can no longer allow.
“We have also see the way vegetal nuisance have taken over everything particularly areas that are being used by the operators of the inter-state buses inspite of the repeated warnings that this is no longer acceptable. Sometimes you come here late in the night and you encounter criminal elements and the government is saying we can no longer take this.
“In the overall interest of the public, what is tidy, what is decent and civilized is to move them where they really belong so that we can free the city and you know what we are doing in terms of the overall plans for the city. There are major bus terminals springing up.
“People have seen what we are doing in Yaba which will be ready by December; they have seen what we have done in TBS and Ikeja, which are all part of the overall plan. And part of what the Governor has said is that every area like that, we will add a beautification plan to it. So, what we have done is in the best interest of Lagosians, taxpayers and the public,” the Commissioner said.
He, however, urged affected stakeholders to work with government, assuring that the development would not in any way affect their businesses and livelihood.
Also speaking, the State’s Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Prince Anofiu Elegushi said the ban was part of the plan of the government to properly utilize spaces under flyovers and bridges.
He assured that government had already provided more than enough spaces for the affected operators at Ojodu Berger and Ojota, saying that a stakeholders’ meeting would also be held on this week to discuss and allocate spaces for operators at the said parks.
He said at the expiration of the ultimatum, government would enforce the ban and any operator who flout the directive would be seriously sanctioned.
On her part, the new General Manager of Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK), Bilikisu Adebiyi-Abiola said government was already working on an intensive design for the beatification project to be sighted within Jibowu and Yaba axis, adding that the project would soon be implemented.
She said the project was part of general Greener Lagos Plan which the present administration had set out to achieve with the taking over and beatification of blighted areas across the State.
“The Greener Lagos Plan is for the benefit of all Lagosians so that our children can use them and it is also important for our health because we are going to introduce greenery, trees and plants that would help the environment,” she said.
She said areas such as Lagos Island, Mile 2 and Festac were currently being considered for the beatification project in the short time, while there are massive plans to extend the project to all parts of the State.
On the issue of quality assurance, the new LASPARK boss said the agency was already working with contractors and partners to comply with the standards, while also assuring that the agency would enforce compliance with the required standards.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, has directed the State Parks and Garden Agency (LASPARK) to open the newly completed recreational park at Ikorodu and Badagry for public use during the Easter celebration.
General Manager LASPARK, Mrs. Abimbola Jijoho-Ogun who disclosed this to journalists Wednesday said both parks would be open as a test run with all the necessary facilities obtainable in any standard parks across the state.
She assured residents that the government has put in place security measures, to enable then use the park without nursing any fear.
JIjoho-Ogun said government is collaborating with partners adding that the parks would be open free of charge all through the Easter period with funfairs for children and adults to have a fun filled Easter period.
She said the five hectares metropolitan park at Ibeju Lekki is still on course adding that it has completed perimeter fencing with about 1million trees planted to protect the acquired land for the park.
The GM also informed that the agency has concluded plans to train over 750 young assistant horticulturists from the 57 local Government Areas and Local Council Developments Area.
She said the assistant horticulturists after completing their training would be assigned some of the newly established or existing parks to mange.
“In readiness for the rain, the agency has commenced aggressive tree pruning exercise across the state to forestall the danger associated with tree falling and windstorm.”
She enjoined residents to report to the agency any tree that may posed danger to lives and properties anywhere across the state.
She said the agency is ready and willing to partner with private and business concerns to adopt and maintain open greenery to ensure that all support the state for a greener, healthier Lagos.
She enjoined all operators of parks in the state to regularize their operations with LASPARK as the agency needs to certify that these parks meet both state and international standard.
lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday inaugurated the Recreational Park and Garden in Gbagada Phase II, named after a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the late Chief Alao Aka-Bashorun.
The late Aka Bashorun, who founded the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), died in October 2005.
Shortly before unveiling the bronze-made bust of the late rights activist, Fashola said the significance of the garden would add value to the residents.
He said: “In 2007 when I assumed office, I promised to build and reclaim all the parks and garden in the state. People complained but I did this to protect life and property. The protection of life and property doesn’t begin and end with guns or hospitals, rather it lies with sanitation and well-being. And nothing can be healthier than a clean environment.”
He said more than 180 parks and gardens have been reclaimed and redeveloped in different parts of the state. He said over five million trees have been planted since he assumed office.
He added that a number of prominent residents of the state “have asked me what will happen to the trees when I leave office next year. In order to cater for this, we have set up an agency to create and maintain the parks and gardens. That is the Lagos State Parks and Garden (LASPARK).”
He extolled the virtues of the late Aka-Bashorun, who, he said, stood up for the oppressed in the country, noting that he was one of the heroes “who sacrificed their lives for people like me to stand here today”.
He added: “It was important to begin writing their stories even if they are no longer physically present with us. We can immortalize their memory. We believe that when all of us are gone, the next generation will ask who is this and this.
“This was how we started with the Beko Ransome Kuti memorial park and we move to commissioning of the Prof. Ayodele Awojobi and the Gani Fawehinmi Park, which became an international park due to the role it played as the venue for people to demand for their rights in 2012. All these are great men. This will tell everyone that this is a land of great men and women.”
