…Achieving Clean, Green Environment Is Our Collective Responsibility, Says LAWMA Boss

Olushola Okunlade Writes

The Tree-Planting Campaign, aimed at creating awareness and preserving the environment by planting 50 million trees nationwide.

This is targeted towards investing in healthy forests for today and for future generations and as these trees grow, trees will helped to plant, they’ll help fight global climate change and ensure human have healthy places to live.

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, the Commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, represented by Dr. Joe Igbokwe, the MD/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, and other environmental partners, featured in this year’s tree planting campaign with the theme: ‘Restore and Recover’, which took place today, at the Muri-Okunola Park, Victoria Island.

“To achieve a clean and green environment,  we must realise that it is the collective responsibility of all citizens and as such, Lagosians must play their part’, the Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Agency, LAWMA,” Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni has said.”

Mr. Odumboni stated this on Wednesday, at the year 2021 Lagos State Annual Tree Planting Day Celebration, which held at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island,  Lagos.

“Today is all about the restoration and the recovery of our environment through the planting of trees.

“And this requires the combine efforts of the government and citizens. There is the need to focus our efforts on the pressing environmental issues.”

Emphasing the environmental benefits of trees, the LAWMA MD said tree-planting is one of the solutions to the climate crisis.

Trees, he noted have many environmental benefits which include the fact that they help to prevent flooding and soil erosion, by absorbing thousands of litres of stormwater. To preserve the current number of trees, the LAWMA boss stressed the importance of recycling.

He said using recycled papers to make new papers reduces the number of trees that are cut down and in return natural resources are conserved.

“Recycling paper saves landfill space and reduces the amount of pollution in the air from waste burning. Recycling saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which helps to tackle climate change,” he added.

Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni said the Lagos Recycle Initiative was launched to address the issues of waste recycling.

He urged Lagosian to embrace the culture of waste recycling by downloading the Pakam App,  an Application designed to encourage  waste sourcing and recycling from the comfort of the homes, offices and business places.

The Lagos State Government in 2008, declared July 14 every year as Tree Planting Day.

This year’s exercise took place simultaneously in 57 locations across the state with the theme: ”Restore and Recover, ”