It is another time of the year to perform the tree planting ritual across the state with several millions of naira if not billions going into it from the public funds meant to make lives meaningful for the people, but in reality the annual exercise has not in any meaningful way contributed to this purpose of making of making life meaningful for the people in terms of welfare.
Every year, the state government and by extension, local government budget several billions to prosecute the exercise with usual ceremonies at the state and local council areas, but it is very sad and saddening that no one is examining the scorecard of the previous exercises to affirm if the initiative is serving its intended purpose or not.
The lack of review mechanisms has not only made a mess of the whole tree planting idea, but also created a sustained and’sustainable’ means for a few that are benefitting from the failed policy, with the Legislative Arms of various council administrations and even the Lagos State House of Assembly failing woefully in their oversight duties to ascertain the performance of the initiative, rather, several millions is budgeted annually for the failed enterprise.
Let us examine the six council areas in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State for instance – Ikorodu Central (Ikorodu LG), Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and Imota Local Council Development Area (LCDA), in regard to the tree planting exercise in the last 10 years and see if there is any of them that can show any tree planted within the period that is standing. None of these administrators can even show trees within their own council areas planted in the last five years.
Despite these failures across the state, we still go about as if all is well and our legislators at the state and local levels continue to budget funds year -in -year -out for tree planting that is making no impact whatsoever.
The Lagos State House of Assembly, Legislative Arms across council areas and the Ministry of Environment failed woefully to monitor, supervise and ensure that the public or citizens have the benefits that funds being sunk into the exercise should give them. Go round the council areas and see how streets that ought to be elevated with trees are empty despite enough setbacks along major roads in Ikorodu, Ebute, Agric -Isawo Road, Obafemi Awolowo Way (Ota -Ona/Itamaga), Itamaga -Ijede Road, Odogunyan, Oba Ogunlewe Way, Igbogbo/Adeboruwa/Bola Tinubu Way, Rep. Babajimi Benson Road (formerly Igbe Road), Awolowo/Igbogbo/Baiyeku Road, Ijede, Gberigbe -Imota and Imota Township among many other major roads. Many of the council secretariats are not even tree -friendly. Even major state roads that used to have trees years back are now empty and the state government now construct roads without plans for trees, thus, residents that have embraced the culture of tree planting in the 80s under the military lost the value under democratic process when the citizenry is supposed to be deepening such good initiative in values and activities within the ecosystem.
Greatly unfortunate is the fact that schools that used to be beautified with trees are now without any since the removal of the remains of the old trees after serving their purpose. How can a serious society impact any lesson on environmental sustainability when the culture is not inculcated in the students?
It is high time to review this initiative and give it every seriousness it deserves if we are truly concerned about our environment.
It is time for Council Chairmen and their Supervisors for Environments across the six councils in Ikorodu, to sit -up especially in the discharge of their duties as it concerns the environment. Residents deserve better in this regard and one of the ways to impact is to ensure that they toe different lines from their successors by being more accountable in ensuring that millions of tax payers used for the annual tree planting exercise start yielding positive results. We must see the outcomes of trees planted this year before several millions is again budgeted for next year’s ‘rituals’.
The system must change from the annual ritual of wasteful public funds to a true and compelling need to sustain the environment.
The Bye -Laws concerning tree planting, if any, must be reviewed to make tree planting compulsory for every house and properties in various councils and the government must ensure that tree planting is phased for proper implementation of the exercise in the next four years.
Planting trees is essential for people’s survival and their well-being, because trees combat climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, mitigate local heat, and improve air quality by filtering pollutants. Tree roots also stabilise soil to prevent erosion, while their canopies manage water flow to reduce flooding.
Examining this year’s theme on the annual celebration, “Trees for Lagos: Our City, Our Responsibility”, government at both state and the local government levels need to show sense of responsibilities first before asking residents to show responsible citizenship if we are to collectively work towards environmental sustenance.
Government must ensure that trees planted this year are monitored properly and assisted to grow to attain their full potentials. And to do this, it is the duties of Supervisors for Environment in every local council and the ministry of environment to ensure that their survival are enforced and any council that failed in this regard should not be overlooked by the legislators who appropriate funds when such a Chairman and his Supervisors appear before them to seek for further wasteful appropriation.
