RAJAB 11 1430 A.H.
FRIDAY JULY, 3 2009.
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Tree seedlings planted by Ejigbo Council destroyed
More than half of tree seedlings planted on roads by Ejigbo Local Council in Lagos have been destroyed by motorists and pedestrians, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The state government, had in October 2008, mandated all the local councils in the state to plant tree seedlings in their areas in line with its tree planting and greenery project.
NAN correspondent reports that tree seedlings planted on roads in Ejigbo Council areas have been ran over by vehicles and trampled on by pedestrians.
NAN reports that the tree seedlings were not protected as done in other councils areas.
Some motorists told NAN that their vehicles crushed the seedlings because of the narrow roads.
They said that motorists had no alternative than to drive on lawns, on which the trees were planted, during peak periods.
They said that the council should have provided protections around the seedlings.
Mr Kunle Folorunsho, a commercial bus operator, told NAN that planting of trees on the ever busy roads, without protection, could be exercise in futility.
“You need to see these roads in the morning and in the evening when people are going and returning from their places of work.
“This roads are too small to even accommodate the number of buses, cars, trailers and motorcycles that ply them daily.
``I knew that the trees would not survive under this situation,’’ he said.
Mr Chinedu Obele, a hawker, confessed that they trampled on the seedlings in the bid to catch up with the customers in moving vehicles.
Obele said that the chaotic traffic situation was responsible for the destruction of the seedlings and urged government to expand the roads.
“We struggle daily for survival by hawking on this road and whenever a customer in a bus beckons on us, we can match anything on our way,’’ he said.
A commercial motorcyclist, Mr Mathew Odum, said that they crushed the seedlings in the bid to beat the traffic during peak periods.
Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, the Council Chairman, could not be reached for comments.
