Nigerian Government Collaborates With Anambra Government To Curb Erosion Menace
By Chinwe Onuigbo, Awka
The Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN, has collaborated with Anambra state government to plant over 3000 palm tree seedlings in Nibo, Awka South Council Area as a means of curbing erosion menace in the area.
The project which was supervised by the Federal Ministry of Environment has been handed over to the state Ministry of Environment through its Commissioner, Engineer Felix Odimegwu, as part of the 2023 Federal Government project on Phyto Control and protection of erosion and marginal lands in the state.
Speaking during the hand over, Engr Odimegwu stated that the project came timely as the erosion crisis in Anambra state has excalated to an alarming rate, leaving 160 of the 179 communities in Anambra State with one form of erosion or the other.
He appreciated the delegation for the economic trees, stating that the project will not only control erosion but will ensure ecosystem stability, food and agriculture security, climate regulation, protection of natural habitat, sustainable land and pollution control among others.
The Environment Commissioner while assuring the federal government of their continuous partnership, revealed that the present administration places priority on its environment in order to reclaim the lost landscape of the state and appealed to industrialists, stakeholders, religious bodies and organisations to key into the massive tree planting campaign for more results.
During the handover, a member of the Federal Government delegation, Mr Igbinosa Osakide, said that tree planting is highly beneficial to the existence of the environment and that as the seedlings of palm-trees , an ecological restoration of shorelines and erosion control will be established as well as increase the states’ forest cover thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
Mr Osakide commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his visionary leadership which started with the distribution of economic trees to all the 21 council areas of the state and assured that when careful managed, the trees will help to reduce the land degradation issues facing the state.