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By Stephen Adeleye.
The Kogi Government on Tuesday performed a tree planting exercise to mark the 2018 planting season as part of its commitment to meet its yearly afforestation target.
Bello flagged off the tree planting exercise at the Green Belt Zone, Phase 2 Estate, Lokoja,
Bello said “Today, we are also here to undertake the symbolic planting of trees as part of the activities to mark the World Environment Day 2018, themed: “Beat Plastic Pollution.”
Bello, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Simon Achuba, said that trees had roles to play in the control of plastic waste impacts, saying trees could checkmate erosion and reduce the effects of flooding.
“When people wrongly choose to burn tyres and plastic wastes, the trees serve as carbon sink to absorb noxious fumes/gas emitted in to the atmosphere.
“Typical among such is carbon dioxide which is highly implicated in causing climate change; that is why the tree planting exercise is symbolic.
“Everyone is encouraged to plant trees and flowers in their surroundings as they also help to freshen the air we breathe in, and the correct season to do so is now.
“Be informed that, in the New Direction Blue print of the present administration, a wholesome environment is a priority. I assure you that Gov. Yahaya Bello – led Government shall work hard to attain it,’’ he said.
The governor called on Kogi people to adopt the right attitude for waste management, saying over used of plastic materials and disposing them indiscriminately was not helping matters.
“Attitudinal change of the citizens is vital in the matter of plastic waste management.
“It is gladdening to know that the plan by the government to install a waste recycling plant in the state is at an advanced state.
“It will serve in mopping up solid wastes particularly plastic wastes from the environment, and very soon plastic waste will become a scarce commodity in the state,” Bello said.
In his remarks, Mr Sanusi Yahaya, the state Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, advised the people to cultivate the habit of planting trees to promote afforestation and sustainability of the environment.
Yahaya also urged Kogi residents to continue to initiate alternative packaging materials which were safer, biogradable and environmental friendly compared to plastic materials.
He added that the use of disposable plastic materials constitute larger percentage of the plastic pollutant harmful to the environment, blocked the drains to cause flooding, erosion, and was poisonous to aquatic animals.
According to him, scientific facts on plastics pollution revealed that the world uses up to five million plastics bags.
“And at least 13 million tonnes of plastics end up in the oceans. Fifty percent of the plastic we use is single-use or disposable.
“In the last decade, the world produced more plastics than in the whole last century. We buy one million plastic bottles every minute. Plastic makes up 10 per cent of all of the wastes we generate.” He said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commissioner and his team along with other stakeholders, picked plastic wastes at Kpata market along River Niger in Lokoja.
The exercise was a way of sensitising the people and a road walk was also conducted from Ganaja Junction to the Green Belt Zone in Phase 2.
The World Environment Day is celebrated worldwide every June 5, to educate the people to take ownership of their environment and to actively engage in the protection of the planet earth.
(NAN)
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