The Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed-led administration is planning to enact a law that will assist in controlling the activities of those involved in the charcoal business in the state. The governor, who stated this while flagging off tree planting to mark the 2018 International Forestry and Tree Planting Day, also said coming up with the mentioned law has become imperative in order to discourage the indiscriminate felling of trees by the charcoal dealers and equally tackle the challenge of deforestation. While expressing displeasure over the activities of the charcoal dealers, the governor emphasized that charcoal business is though a legitimate activity, it should however, be properly regulated. Ahmed further submitted that the state government would do everything necessary to support the charcoal dealers towards getting their business activities conducted legitimately without being detrimental to the environment.
Global Excellence’s investigation revealed that the people that are into the charcoal business are said to source for the charcoal mainly from villages and towns in Ifelodun local government before making such available to the middlemen who will transport it to the cities. ‘Government will encourage afforestation through mass tree planting by the schools and the government agencies while also strengthening the forestry department of the state Ministry of Environment’, the governor said. In his remarks, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Alhaji Isiaka Amasa Al-Amin said the tree planting event is among the United Nations’ programmes aimed at ensuring sustainability of life.
He disclosed that the ministry will soon distribute seedlings to schools in the state as part of the clean and green programmes marking the International Forestry and Tree Planting Day. Amasa, however, advised residents in the state to set aside and designate one third of their premises as the green area in order to seek relief from the excessive heat currently being experienced in the country.
