As part of measures to fight climate change-induced desertification in the country, a group under the auspices of the Association of Flower Nurseries and Landscaping Practitioners or AFNALPA has received the support and nudge of the Federal Ministry of Environment to plant 10 million trees in major locations across the country.
Recall that the federal government had pledged to world leaders to reduce carbon emission to net-zero by 2060 at the COP26 in November last year, following which President Mohammadu Buhari assented to the country's Climate Change Bill on his return from the global climate summit in Glasgow, UK.
In a correspondence signed by Rasak Kolawole Adekola, the Federal Department of Forestry director at the Federal Ministry of Environment, on behalf of the Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, said that the campaign is in line with the Federal Government's vision to ensure increment on forest cover.
"I am directed to refer to your letter Ref: AFNALPA10/022/75 [and] dated 12 January 2022 on the above subject and convey to you the Ministry's endorsement of your laudable and complementary programme 'Plant a Tree Save a life' free planting campaign aimed at planting 10 million frees in major locations across the states nationwide," the correspondence read.
"Without any sense of equivocation, this is in line with the Federal Government's target to increase the nation's forest cover and thereby contribute to climate change mitigation and sustainable development."
The group said that the campaign titled: "Plant A Tree; Save A Life" was to support the United Nations' Great Green Wall Initiative to plant 100 million trees in Africa to combat climate change.
It said since 2011, its 1,500 members across the country have contributed to the beautification of the federal capital, preservation of the ecosystem and the provision of greenery for the beautification of Nigeria in partnership with relevant natural conservation agencies.
