The Nation Newspaper

Tag: TREES

  • ‘Plant trees save environment’

    ‘Plant trees save environment’

    NIGERIANS have been urged to plan trees to beautify and save their environment from destruction.

    A former school principal Mrs Yemi Akinsanmi gave the advice at this year’s tree planting awareness campaign by the Ikeja Golden Lions Club at Opebi Junior and Senior High Schools, Ikeja, Lagos.

    She said beside beautifying the environment, trees provide shade and wade off storms from homes. She said: “When we plant trees, we make the environment beautiful; when the trees mature they provide shade, cool breeze and keep off storms. They also make the environment very green.’

    Mrs Akinsanmi, who is the chairperson of Loins Club District 404 B2 Environmental Services Committee, said the event was part of the club’s centennial anniversary, noting that the global group provides humanitarian services to the less privileged. She educated the pupils on the importance of tree planting, adding: ‘’Let’s plant trees. Lions say yes to trees. Everyday, anyday.’’

    The District 404B 2 Zonal chair Esther Benson also spoke on the imperativeness of tree planting, advising the pupils of the schools to water the plants daily to speedy their growth. She said the younger generation should know about tree planting, adding that it is part of environmental cleanliness.

    Members of the club, teachers and pupils took turn to plant trees in front of the school premises.

  • ‘Our trees are being cut down’

    ‘Our trees are being cut down’

    Do they know that everyone will die out if there are no trees? Do they not know that humans depend on trees for oxygen?

    These are some of the questions that some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been asking since the authorities started cutting down trees that also provided shades in the Berger area and other parts of the city. The people have been quite angry at the development.

    Residents who are forced to go about their business in the scorching sun or under teh umbrella have called kicking since the trees started going down. Some have been accusing the present administration of ruining the beauty and scenery of the environment.

    The most bitter amongst residents are those who do business or relax under the trees spread across many parts of Abuja.

    “Is it not the people from environmental protection that came from nowhere and started cutting down the trees that have been serving as shade for us for so long?” asked taxi driver Gabriel Eket.

    “I just don’t understand why our government has to always look for ways to make life difficult for the common man.”

    Another agitated taxi driver, obviously uncomfortable in his overheated cab, compalined, “I don’t understand how the trees here are affecting them; the trees were the only thing saving us from the terrible sun for a long time as we wait for passengers, I don’t understand why they had to come and cut them, people in other places are planting more trees but our government is here cutting them down; what kind of people are we in this nation?”

    A GSM top-up card vendor said, “This sun is spoiling business for us; before they cut the trees, people used to stop by the shade where we used to stay and in the process they will buy something from us but now, we even find it difficult staying here when the sun is high, talk more of people who are now in a hurry to get away from the sun. I don’t understand why they cut the trees honestly, it was not causing any obstruction or blocking anybody.”

    A representative of the Federal Capital Territory’s Parks and Recreational Department, Comrade Paul Amechi said, “We don’t just cut down trees and leave it like that, for every tree you see us cut in Abuja, it is replaced with four other trees in strategic parts of the the FCT, in places like Apo Legislative Quarters, Abacha Barracks, Mabushi, Katampe and so many places. In the last two months, we have planted 4,699 new trees, and placed water tankers in such strategic places for its watering.

    “In fact, we are planning on cutting down 2,000 more trees around the FCT but the Minister is yet to approve the proposal, we hope he does because all around Abuja, most of the roots of trees have damaged walk and water ways, most of these over grown trees are damaging facilities.

  • ‘Our kids shouldn’t study under trees

    ‘Our kids shouldn’t study under trees

    It is not entirely strange that trees have long provided shelter for pupils in some parts of the country but in Benue State, chairman of the state Universal Basic Education Board or SUBEB, Dr. Philip Tachin has said the practice must stop forthwith.

    On a tour of projects being built or rehabilitated in the state schools, Tachin found pupils studying under a mango tree because classrooms were inadequate.

    The SUBEB chair seized the opportunity to urge contractors handling school projects to expedite action and save children the agony of learning under trees, among other inconveniences.

    In some places, Tachin read the riot act, saying any contractor who did a shoddy job or was lazy would not be paid until the work was redone or finished according to schedule.

    He, alongside management and members of a special task force, inspected projects whose contracts were awarded under the UBEC/Benue State Government intervention funds for the years 2012 to 2015. In the state’s northwest senatorial zone, they inspected primary school projects comprising Local Government Authority (LGEA) Gbajimba, RCM Primary School Daudu in Guma Local Government Area. Others included Col. Nenge LGEA Primary School and LGEA Primary School, Tarhembe in Tarka Local Government Area as well as LGEA Primary School Adem, Uchen CAC Primary School, Wadadta in Makurdi Local Government Area.

    At Gbajima, the SUBEB chair praised the contractor for the good work done, but urged him to ensure he met the three months deadline. From Gbajimba, the team headed to Daudu where a block of four classrooms was completed with modern toilet facilities, though Tachin noticed some shoddy work and asked that it be corrected before payment.

    At Tarka Local Government Area, the county home of the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator George Akume, Tachin and his team expressed satisfaction with the work done Nenge, the SUBEB chair was less satisfied with the dressing of a school teacher, which he described as shabby.

    “You are dressed like those on construction site,” he charged the teacher.

    At Tarhembe, he sought better work attitude, asking for the number of teachers at a junior secondly school and warning that he would return for a head count.

    In Makurdi, the state capital, there were some leaky roofs, which must be fixed before contractors could expect pay.

    The team also saw a school which was razed down by suspected Fulani herdsmen. The entire school is to be renovated.

    In some other places, it was observed that pupils now have good water supply, thanks to a borehole which also served the community.

    Addressing journalists, Tachin expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done and the professionalism of the contractors. He also hailed the state governor Samuel Ortom for releasing funds to enable the SUBEB change the face of schools in the state.

  • Lagos trees, beyond beauty

    Lagos trees, beyond beauty

    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.

  • Govt urges Nigerians to plant trees

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs Nana Mede,  has  urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of tree planting, to ensure soil protection and food security.

    He made the call in Bwari, Abuja  while addressing participants in the tree planting campaign organised by the ministry to commemorate the World Desertification Day (WDD).

    The day is celebrated on June 17, every year.

    The theme for this year’s celebration is “Attainment of food security for all through sustainable systems” with the slogan “No such thing as free lunch, invest in healthy soils’’.

    She said since Nigeria was a party to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, it was imperative for the people to plant trees and establish orchards, to avoid land degradation.

    She, therefore, enjoined the participants to adopt tree planting as a habit, while assuring them of the ministry’s commitment to ensure soil protection for food security and sustainable environment.

    “Desertification stares us in the face; about 33 per cent of our land mass is affected by degradation; we are left with 57 per cent for sustainable living and development.

    “About 20, 000 women suffer annually from respiratory diseases as a result of smoke they inhale from cooking with fire wood.

    “There is a need for us to take urgent steps to arrest this situation and the way forward is by tree planting.

    “We must adopt the habit of planting trees in our homes, farms, schools and places of work, to ensure the soil is enriched and protected for food security and sustainable environmental governance.

    “If we must cut down a tree, then we plant five trees as replacement.

    “As a way forward, the ministry will continue to provide the enabling environment for people to play their respective roles to ensure our that our environment continues to fulfil development objectives.”

    She said the establishment of plantation in Bwari was to showcase the seriousness the ministry attached to restoring communities and regions affected by land degradation.

    She further assured that the ministry would partner the Bwari community to sustain the tree planting campaign to combat land degradation.

    The Supervisory Councillor for Environment, Bwari Area Council, Mrs Fidelia Onyechalom, said bush burning by farmers was affecting tree planting as well as a major cause of land degradation in Bwari.

    Onyechalom, however, commended the ministry for choosing Bwari as a venue to mark this year’s WDD, adding that it would promote the much needed awareness on the importance of tree planting.

    She expressed delight that the council was chosen to host the programme.

    “We were faced with the problem of planting more trees because of the lack of orientation on the part of farmers who often practice bush burning to cultivate their farms.

    “We promise to take good care of the trees that will be planted today, to ensure they survive and that everyone benefit from them to mitigate harsh weather.”

    The high point of the event was tree planting by stakeholders, including military and para-military agencies and staff of the council.

    The WDD was declared by the UN General Assembly in December 1994, to create awareness and exchange information on ways to combat land degradation

     

  • FUTA forestry students tag trees

    FUTA forestry students tag trees

    As part of its contribution to the beautification of the environment and education, the International Forestry Students Association, (IFSA), Federal University Technology, Akure (FUTA) chapter, has embarked on the tagging of all exotic and indigenous trees that dot the university campus.

    The name tagging exercise is one of the activities marking the 2015 IFSA Week.

    Flagging off the event, the Dean, School of Agriculture & Agricultural Technology, (SAAT), FUTA, Prof Shadrach Akindele, lauded the students’ initiative, describing it as a noble drive worthy of emulation by students of other universities.

    The Head of Department, Forestry and Wood Technology, Prof Tunde Ajayi, said the name tagging would enable members of the FUTA community and visitors to identify the names and uses of the trees at a glance.  He explained that some of the trees were planted while some were pollinated.

    IFSA President, Opeyemi Adaramoye, said the students decided to tag the trees to beautify the environment, broaden knowledge and give practical expression to what the students are learning.

    The association vice president, Rebecca Adelola, is optimistic that the project would make the students and their course of study relevant locally and globally.

    IFSA is a worldwide body with headquarters in Europe while the Nigerian headquarters is domiciled in FUTA.

     

  • Plan a tree today

    Plan a tree today

    According to the United Nations Children Fund, a recent scientific funding indicates that a changing climate has a significant impact on our planet. For us to improve our local environment and make it suitable for our existence, tree planning is important. Planting is an act of putting down roots and contributing to the future. The simple act of planting a tree helps the environment in so many ways.

    Trees clean the air

    Trees provide oxygen

    Trees cool the streets and the city

    Trees conserve energy

    Trees save water

    Trees help prevent water pollution

    Trees help prevent soil erosion

    Children, you can learn from a young girl of nine- year-old Felix Finkbiner, who hatches a plan to plant a million trees. His commitment toward planting a tree has been helpful in local communities whose lives depend on trees. Plan, protect and preserve the trees today. Remember that without trees in our area, there will be no life on the earth.

  • Fashola urges LASPOTECH to preserve trees

    The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), has urged the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) community to care for trees in their environment.

    The governor spoke at the seventh tree planting campaign, which had as theme: “Life is Better with trees.”

    Fashola, who was represented by Hon Kazeem Ademola Alimi, a lawmaker representing Constituency I Eti-Osa LGA in the Lagos State House of Assembly, said the natural environment (including trees) needs to be preserved to mitigate the effects of climate change.

    “When trees are cut down or forests are cleared, the earth becomes poorer. Tree gives life, improve life and sustain life.

    “It is no news that the global environment has been ravaged by eco-degradation leading to climate change, this is the cumulative effect of years of environmental negligence on man’s part. It is therefore expedient that we put in our best effort to rehabilitate the environment,” he said.

    Underscoring the importance of the exercise, Fashola said that the regeneration of the environment is a critical component of his administration as “the environment is everything and everything is the environment.”

    Three trees were planted beside the Library complex of the polytechnic by Alimi, with the assistance of the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, and the rector, Dr Lawal Abdulazeez.

    Bello, who was represented by Mr Adetokunbo Oso, noted that the government has been able to sustain the environment through the tree planting campaign launched in 2008.

  • Marriage: A garden of treasures

    Dear Reader,

    Marriage is a garden planted by God, a garden of teaching, learning, understanding, accommodating and appreciating. What does Marriage mean to you? Is it a blessing or a ‘necessary evil’, as many would say? Is it a bed of roses or one that is full of thorns and thistles? Is it a help to you or an everyday hurt that you are trying by all means to avoid?

    I have good news for you. This month, I shall be showing you the true blessings of marriage. As you apply the truth in your own marriage, you will begin to enjoy the same blessings in Jesus’ name.

    Marriage is a unique relationship ordained of God, for a man and a woman to give and receive satisfaction of their healthy needs and desires. It is the oldest institution in the world, having its root in divinity. God, Himself instituted it. This is clearly seen as written in Genesis 2:22, which says: …The Lord God… made … a woman, and brought her unto the man. It is not the culture of any country of the world. It is heaven’s culture. Marriage can be likened to a garden. When God conducted the first wedding, He placed the couples (Adam and Eve) in the true environment for marriage – “the Garden of Eden.”

    The dictionary meaning of a garden is a piece of ground used for growing flowers, fruits, vegetables and other plants. Marriage is a garden planted by God Himself. God’s Word in Genesis 2:8-16 says: … The Lord God planted a garden… God was and is still the Great Planter of the marriage garden. His design is always the best. When you accept His design, the best of your marriage will come out for you. Like every normal garden, there are several efforts and care applied, in order for the health and beauty given to it to yield its best, as God designed it to be for you.

    Marriage is not just an ordinary garden, but a garden full of treasures. These treasures are there, just waiting to be dug out. However, digging is a gradual process that requires patience, labour, diligence, wisdom and determination from you. I am a living witness to the fact that marriage is a garden full of treasures.

    By the grace of God, I have been digging out some of the treasures in it and I tell you, they are profitable. God is no respecter of persons. The same Lord is rich unto all. You, too, can start digging out the treasures and make use of them to the glory of God.

    Let us examine some of the treasures in the marriage garden.

     

    TREES

    Genesis 2:9 says: Out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food… In the natural, trees have many uses, and they can also be reproduced into many things. Trees make for beauty, hence the statement “…every tree that is pleasant to the sight…” Trees give shade from the heat of the sun and are sometimes used to ward off erosion. They can be used to drain excess water from swamps that may breed infectious insects and other health hazards. Likewise, marriage is meant for beauty. It is meant to check the excesses of life providing security and comfort from the usual stress of life. When you act in conscious obedience to the Word of God concerning marriage, you will begin to enjoy the blessings of marriage.

    Trees produce edible fruits that are good for food as written in Genesis 2:9: Out of the ground made the lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food…. What food does in the natural world, is to quench hunger and leave you satisfied. Also, marriage is meant to give you satisfaction in life. Lack of satisfaction and continuous hunger, is what has pushed many married men and women outside the home to commit adultery.

    Here is a testimony that will build your faith up: “I used to worship in a place where I was made to believe that misunderstanding brings about understanding. I was even asked if I had any serious quarrel with my wife and I said, ‘no.’ I was made to believe that quarrelling and fighting were parts of marriage. I believed this and we started having problems at home. With Word of God that we have heard, read and put into practice along with the right spiritual food that we have received from this place, my marriage, to the glory of God, has been healed from every misunderstanding.” Yours can experience the same in the name of Jesus.

    Since God created the marriage garden, He alone has all that can make it work. For you to have a better access to God’s help, you need to accept His Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. If you will like to accept Jesus Christ, please, say this prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. I cannot help myself. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your blood. Deliver me from sin and satan, to serve the living God. I believe You died for me and on the third day, You rose that I might be justified. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom”.

     

    Congratulations, you are now born again! I believe that you will begin to experience the reality of the price that Jesus paid for your sins at Calvary. All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name!

    Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: E-mail: faithdavid@yahoo.com, faithdavid2013@gmail.com Tel. No: 08141320204; 07026385437; 07094254102

     

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Making Marriage Work, Marriage Covenant, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).