The Kogi State House of Assembly has initiated a tree planting exercise around the Assembly complex to mitigate the effects of climate change and promote green energy.
The Speaker of the House, Aliyu Umar Yusuf took the lead, planting a fruit tree alongside his colleagues, who each planted the trees assigned to them.
This initiative aims to set a good example for other local governments to follow suit and plant trees to combat global warming.
Speaking with journalists, Speaker Yusuf emphasised the need to preserve the environment, plant trees, and discourage deforestation to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.
He stated, “Our objective is to ensure a secure and habitable environment for everyone. Climate change has contributed to erosion and other environmental challenges that threaten our communities. Through this symbolic tree planting, we are encouraging all communities to embrace environmental stewardship.”
When asked if there were laws preventing deforestation in the State, he responded “We have laws in place to regulate deforestation. The forestry department is to apprehend and prosecute anyone engaging in tree felling without proper authorisation.”
The Speaker also highlighted the importance of land reclamation and food security, noting that tree planting will preserve the natural ecosystem and help combat food insecurity.
Climate change has led to global warming, extreme weather events, and has become a pressing global issue that requires collective action.
