…as Sanwo-Olu set to launch ‘One House, One Tree’
“A Nation that destroys the soil, destroys itself” – Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Executive Chairman of Somolu Local Government, Hon. Abdul Hamed Salawu, earlier today marked the World Tree Planting day with the management and executive team of the council.
As been celebrated across the 57 councils in Lagos State, Somolu LG was not an exception, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was represented by the Executive Vice Chairman of Somolu Local Government, Hon. Bowale Sosimi.
The Executive Chairman of Somolu Local Government went scientific in his keynote address as read by Secretary to the local government, Ogbeni Taiwo Adeyemi Adesanya. “Forests are lungs of our land purifying the air and giving fresh strength to the people by providing oxygen, improving air quality, climate amelioration, conserving water, preserving soil and supporting wildlife”, the council boss analysed.
The multiple awards winning Chairman also commended the vision of former Governor Raji Fashola “who during the inauguration of tree planting, promised to embark on renewal and regeneration of Lagos environment by projecting the Ten Million trees would have been planted by the year 2020″. And to God be the glory, out the Ten Million (10m) Trees, Seven Million, Three Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Eight Trees have been planted”, Dullar added.
In Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s keynote address, he emphasised the benefit of planting trees in our environment. “Let’s resonate it across the city of Lagos that as we mark our birthdays, let’s plant a tree; as we dedicate our children, let’s plant a tree; as we celebrate our children’s graduation, let’s plant a tree; whatever memorable event that we do, let’s endeavour to mark it with planting of a tree”, Sanwo-Olu through his representative, the Executive Vice Chairman of Somolu Local Government, Hon. Bowale Sosimi, added that “This little act of benevolence to nature can actually save our planet from further destruction”.
Mr Abiodun Bamgboye, the Permanent Secretary to Ministry of the Environment lauded the theme for this year’s Tree Planting Campaign, ‘Clean and Green is our Perfect Dream’. “I urge every Lagosians to be alive to their responsibilities on this nagging issue of sanitation and greening. When we make it clean, let us make it green and when we make it green, we make it safer and healthier for the generality of our people”, the PS said.
Mr Bamgboye also acknowledged the contribution of private sector organisations towards the success of this year’s campaign, “GOKADA Nigeria Limited has pledged to plant a massive One Hundred Thousand Trees”, Bamgboye announced.
Among notable players in Somolu community at the event include Alhaji Bakare (APC Apex Leader), Hon. Femi Taiwo (Somolu APC Chairman) and other party stalwarts in Somolu. Hon. Yomi Osunkoya (Leader of Somolu Legislative Chamber), Supervising Councilors, Hon. Muse Bakare (Environment), Hon. Wale Oseni (Agric and Community Service), Hon. Olumide Akinola (Health) and Comrade Rotimi Oluyede (SA Environment). All the Ward Chairmen were also present at the historical event.
Community leaders, Imam Issa Adeyinka (representative of Chief Imam of Somolu), Chief Rodialahu Yinus (Baale of Bajulaiye and representative of Oba of Somolu), Chief Dapo Odugunwa (CDC Chairman), Chief Modupe Olufojude (Iyaloja General of Somolu), deputy Babaloja General of Somolu, representatives of Hausa and Igbo communities all participated in the tree planting exercise.
“I must emphasize here that it is an offence in Lagos State to cut trees without the permission of Lagos State Parks and Gardens (LASPARK)”, the Executive Chairman of Somolu concluded.
