The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has urged residents to see tree planting as a shared responsibility to protect the environment, restore degraded ecosystems and build communities better able to withstand the effects of climate change.
The Governor, represented by his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, made the call in Abeokuta, the state capital, at the 2026 Ogun Tree Planting Day, themed, “Root for the Future: Plant a Tree, Heal the Earth.”
He said that climate change was no longer a distant threat, as rising temperatures, flooding, prolonged dry seasons, land degradation, and biodiversity loss were increasingly affecting communities, livelihoods and economic activities.
Governor Abiodun said that “tree planting should go beyond the annual distribution and planting of seedlings, urging residents to nurture and protect trees until they mature.”
He noted that the real value of tree planting lies in ensuring that seedlings survive and grow into trees that can absorb carbon dioxide, provide shade, reduce soil erosion, support biodiversity and help communities cope with extreme weather.
The Governor said ”environmental stewardship must remain an essential part of sustainable development, with economic growth pursued alongside measures that protect natural resources and improve people’s quality of life.”
Governor Abiodun commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising environmental sustainability through initiatives including the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan, National Clean Cooking Policy, afforestation and ecosystem restoration programmes, climate-smart investments, and carbon market development.
He said Ogun State was complementing the efforts through investments in afforestation, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, green infrastructure, waste management, environmental sanitation and improved flood-control measures.
The Governor urged all stakeholders to see themselves as custodians of the environment, stressing that planting trees without protecting and nurturing them would limit the long-term benefits of the initiative.
The State Head of Service, Olanrewaju Saka, called on public servants, corporate organisations, educational institutions, community leaders and residents to make tree planting, and environmental protection as part of their everyday activities.
The Commissioner for Forestry, Taiwo Oludotun, said “the state government had revitalised all six forest reserves that were reportedly moribund before the present administration assumed office, contributing to improved forest cover across the state.”
The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, described every surviving tree as a practical investment in climate action and sustainable development, urging residents to protect seedlings from damage and monitor their growth.
He said trees were critical to protecting communities and the wider environment, capturing carbon dioxide, improving air quality, conserving water, reducing soil erosion and providing habitats for wildlife, while also contributing to the physical and mental well-being of residents.
Oresanya particularly challenged students and young people, whom he described as “Environmental Champions of Tomorrow,” to take action by planting and nurturing trees in schools, places of worship and communities.
He said that the tree-planting programme, organised by the State Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry, is aimed at raising public awareness about environmental protection, reducing soil erosion, supporting biodiversity, and improving the capacity of landscapes to absorb rainfall.
Oresanya said the success of the tree-planting campaign should not be measured only by the number of seedlings planted, but by the number that survive, mature and continue to provide environmental benefits for people and future generations.
