The Minister is encouraging the planting of trees in the Abuja

The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Olajumoke Akinjide, has warned developers and residents against distorting the Abuja Master Plan.

The minister, who gave this warning while launching this year’s tree planting in Ushafa, Bwari Area Council of Abuja, stressed the need for strict compliance with the approved land use master-plan of the capital.

She also advised developers and individuals to desist from building on designated green areas as well as flood and disaster prone areas. Ms. Akinjide noted that tree planting had become necessary to tackle the environmental challenges of erosion, flooding, and desertification threatening several nations including Nigeria.

“The current global environmental problems/challenges such as erosion, flooding and desertification, among others that are directly threatening Nigeria now call for aggressive sensitization on tree planting, since it is the only known natural solution to curbing the menace,” she said.

Ms. Akinjide also reiterated the commitment of the Abuja administration to providing a secure and safe environment to all residents and visitors, and therefore urged them to imbibe the culture of planting trees around their homes.

The Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Olvadi Madayi, had earlier in her address, stated that the Forestry sub-sector of the Agriculture and Rural Development was currently executing some projects to mitigate the effects of erosion, landslides and flood.

She listed the projects as watershed management, afforestation, and FCT boundary planting.

Ms. Madayi said, “To ensure sustainable tree planting programme in FCT, the Forestry Unit has established three Forest Nurseries in Bako, Kwali Area Council; Karshi in Municipal Area Council; and Bwari in Bwari Area Council of FCT.”