•Falemu
As Governor Adedapo Oluwasegun Abiodun formally assumed office on Thursday morning, the President Landscape Horticulturists Association of Nigeria (LAHORAN) Mr. Sanya Falemu has called on him to put measures in place to encourage and promote environmental protection and conservation as against occasional ceremonial trees planting by predecessors.
Falemu who spoke with The Daily Crucible in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, shortly after the new Governor and his Deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako - Oyedele, resumed work at Oke - Mosan Governor's Office, urged Abiodun - led administration to patronise local experts to ensure proper monitoring, culturing and tending of the environment.
According to him, after the out - sourced contractor - horticulturists have collected money for job done, they rarely come back to monitor or tend the same environment, since they are not resident within.
He advised the government not to play politics with such critical environmental sustainability issue.
He cited cities such as Port Harcourt and Lagos where the use of local horticulturists works, saying the system in those places allow local and private participations to keep the environment safe and beautiful.
Falemu said:"Environmental sustainability is not about tree planting alone, there is the aspect of post- planting, tending, nurturing, culturing and maintenance which requires constant monitoring and close touch, lamenting that the non patronage of local experts is hindering the growth of the trade locally.
"In Ogun State, with most of the roads being constructed, the finishing touches have to come with landscaping and tree planting, otherwise it would not be sustainable and attractive "
"When it comes to the issue of beautification, reafforestation , tree planting , we should go beyond playing politics around it."
He noted that activities of the government on environmental beautification and conservation should not be limited to occasional celebration of World Environmental day and the likes , but should be deliberate, planned and focused to give room for evaluation of whatever projects executed.
Falolu also called on the new administration to develop a robust green plan for the state as well as reactivate what they have on ground, saying the only way to prevent environmental or related hazards is to take afforestation serious.
Speaking on the need to prevent environmental degradation and erosion at all cost, the expert conservationist also said environmental degradation "exposes us to global warming and ultraviolet rays which are cancerous."
He equally wants the government to inculcate the value of protecting the environment on the younger ones through the issue of green club and nature corner, usually practiced in the past.
"People can easily wake up and go into crime such as kidnapping and armed robbery because they do not have in them, the culture of protecting nature," he said.
Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
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