FCTA to plant 20,000 trees in Abuja

The Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it is planting 20,000 trees in selected districts of the FCT, Abuja, to maintain a good environmental ecosystem in the city.

The Director of Parks and Recreation, FCTA, Mr Isaiah Ukpana, stated this during the tree planting exercise in Wuye District on Tuesday.

Ukpana said that the exercise was a continuation of the tree planting in the three districts, including Wuye and Katampe Extension, which began during the 2023 World Environment Day.

He said that trees in the areas were vanishing due to developmental activities, saying “there are not many trees in the areas”.

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 planting which should be the responsibility of everyone.”

He warned residents against indiscriminate felling of trees without permission, adding that there were regulations guiding felling of trees, that people must seek permission to fell a tree.

The director warned that anyone who fell a tree without permission would be penalised. He noted the need for a massive awareness campaign on the importance of trees in the environment with a view to encourage 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.

On his part, 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, as this, according to him, will help to rebuild the battered ecosystem and maintain a serene environment in the capital city.

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