By Sarah NEGEDU
The Federal Capital Administration, FCTA, has said it will be planting 20,000 trees in select districts of the territory, to replace lost trees and butter the ecosystems in the capital city.
The Director of Parks and Recreation, Mr Isaiah Ukpana, who disclosed this
during a tree planting exercise in Wuye District, said that the exercise was a continuation of the administration’s tree planting exercise which it began during the 2023 World Environment Day.
He said the FCTA had planted trees in some districts including Wuye and Katampe Extension, where he observed that trees in the areas were vanishing due to developmental activities.
According to him, “the tree planting exercise is an attempt to replace the lost trees to maintain a serene environment. This is also part of efforts to encourage tree planning which should be the responsibility of everyone.”
The Director therefore, warned residents against indiscriminate felling of trees without permission, as he stressed that there were regulations guiding felling of trees and so people must seek permission before felling any tree.
He added that there was the need for a massive awareness campaign on the importance of trees in the environment, with a view to encouraging people to plant trees and not to cut down trees.
Ukpana said that the department was working with some non-governmental organisations to plant more trees in the capital cities, particularly fruit trees.
One of the partners, Dr Aliyu Ahmed, Chairman, ZFH, a charity foundation working on environment and ecosystem mediation, expressed concern on how the ecosystem in Abuja was being eroded and abused.
Ahmed said that the NGO, with the Director of Parks and Recreation, have concluded plans to plant fruit trees in major parks and gardens in Abuja.
This, according to him, will help to rebuild the battered ecosystem and maintain a serene environment in the capital city.