The Lagos tree planting day is a special day set aside by the state government for the planting of trees. The latest one which took place on July 14th, 2024 indicates a commitment to combating climate change. The initiative is a great step in combating the impending natural disaster that has already impacted the state terribly in recent times.

The State has constantly battled flooding but while the Lagos state government has promised to plant over 20,000 trees, the question of where these trees are going to stand is very important. Lagos state is the smallest yet the most densely populated state in Nigeria. This state is constantly threatened by rising sea levels and even losing more land to the ocean as the days go by. Apart from rising sea levels, the population of Lagos is also concerning.

Population and Structural Challenges as an impediment to Tree Planting Objective in the Case of Lagos

Lagos state is a coastal city and one of the most densely populated cities in the world. With insufficient town planning and indiscriminate building, the state has emerged to be best described as an urban jungle. Almost all lands in Lagos are built up. To achieve the initiative of the Lagos tree planting day, there’s a need to evolve a different attitude to habitation in the state.

The indiscriminate building is so concerning that people now build in waterways thereby complicating the flooding situation. But the trees won’t be standing on buildings and Lagos landlords have the habit of converting every available space into residential houses, occasionally living space for only car parking lots. There is less space for tree planting unless some structures have to go.

For the Lagos Tree Planting Day event to achieve its objectives and be sustained, it needs to be integrated into the Lagos society. This means trees in streets, in the shoreline areas, and not just a forest reserve. Trees in streets and on the shorelines are going to present diverse challenges to inhabitants. Unless shrubs, huge growing trees are going to compete for space with humans in Lagos.

There has been a wave of housing property demolition in Lagos. This has brought public outcry, further demolition for tree planting may cause more hardship in a country where the cost of living is already very high. In the coming days, we will see how the Lagos state government will achieve its objective.

Uniformed society

Another challenge that the Lagos state government will face in its campaign against climate change is having a high population of people who are unaware of the benefits of tree planting. Lagos Tree Planting Day needs to expand its scope towards one that ensures citizen education on the importance of tree planting.

Lagos state is one of the states with the least number of trees in the country. With Lagos’s high population, the state ought to rank first among the states with the highest vegetation if the people are promptly informed of the benefits of such actions but the reverse is the case.

There is a constant drive to turn any available space in Lagos into a building. Capitalism seems to be having the upper hand in Lagos and housing developers are always in the habit of building anywhere and anyhow.

Restoring the old city plan or providing a new city plan for Lagos is important though this will cause a lot of hardship as several of the places marked for non-residential purposes like parks and forest reserves are now occupied. This has been at the forefront of longstanding land reclamation by the government.

As tragic as the experience of the recent wave of demolition has been for inhabitants, blocking waterways with buildings is not also the right way about it. There should be a well-intended compensation and relocation plan by the government where individuals who erroneously built in such designated areas are compensated and in a possible scenario relocated to other areas.

This will reduce the hardship incurred by the current demolition drive while creating more space for trees and the land’s appropriate utilization.

Recommended Approach towards achieving the objectives of the Lagos tree planting day

While the objective of the Lagos state government to plant more trees in the state would face several challenges, some steps can be taken to make its aim achievable. These steps include

Rebuilding the slums

Lagos houses some of the biggest slums in the world. These slums can be rebuilt in phases where less land can be used for larger structures. This will provide adequate housing without permanently displacing current inhabitants. Planning for the new settlements shall contain spaces for trees. With slums converted to high-rise building vicinity, much more space will be left for where trees can be integrated.

Populace sensitization

For Effectiveness, the Populace should be sensitized. The populace needs to understand that planting flowers and shrubs in the compound is beneficial. Landlords need to be sensitized to integrate tree planting into their properties. Tenants too need to be proactive in planting and caring for flowers and ornamental shrubs in inhabited properties.

Conclusion

The initiative of the Lagos tree planting day is a welcome one that should be encouraged. Lagos state is the most vulnerable to rising sea level in the country. It is a great step that the government is being intentional in confronting the situation. While there are indeed numerous challenges, they are navigable given the appropriate approach that is needed to carry the people of Lagos state along.

When well implemented, the Lagos model will not just benefit the state and its inhabitants but also serve as a template for other states to adopt.

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