The Federal Government has announced an ambitious plan to involve at least 10,000 youths and retirees in planting six million trees nationwide to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Iziaq Salako, the Minister of State for Environment, shared details of this initiative in an exclusive interview with Healthwise, emphasizing its dual purpose of creating employment opportunities and addressing environmental challenges.
The tree planting project will be executed in stages, focusing on areas affected by deforestation and desertification.
Salako underscored the importance of this endeavor in absorbing greenhouse gases, improving air quality, and combating land degradation, flooding, and erosion.
He highlighted the diversity of tree species that will be utilized by both indigenous and exotic varieties suitable for Nigeria’s ecological zones.
The program will also promote agroforestry and explore bamboo as a sustainable alternative to traditional trees.
Climate change, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), poses significant threats to human health, endangering clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food, and secure shelter.
WHO projects an increase in climate-related deaths from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress by 2030 to 2050.
Salako urged all Nigerians to participate actively by planting trees in their homes and communities, stressing the collective responsibility in combating climate change and its associated health risks.
“This year, our mandate from Mr. President is to ensure the planting of at least six million trees for 2024.
“We have developed comprehensive programs to achieve this goal, with involvement from agencies such as the Forest Research Institute of Nigeria in Ibadan, the Great Green Wall project, and other ministries. Special interventions by the President will also facilitate large-scale tree planting efforts,” he said.
The minister outlined plans to engage youth and retirees in tree planting exercises, as well as support state ministries and NGOs with successful tree planting track records.
The initiative aims to train youth to propagate seedlings independently, nurture planted trees to maturity, and receive compensation from the federal government for their efforts.
He also emphasized the government’s commitment to deploying technology for effective program monitoring, including virtual training sessions for participants and the use of geolocation imagery to verify tree planting activities.
These measures are part of a broader strategy to combat land degradation, increase Nigeria’s forest cover, and create between 5,000 to 10,000 jobs through the initiative.
Ultimately, participants will receive modest monthly stipends to ensure the care and successful growth of the trees they plant, further reinforcing the program’s sustainability and impact.
