The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) said it planted over 2,000 trees across Lagos State to safeguard the ecosystem in 2023.

The NCF head of communications, Oladapo Soneye, said this while speaking to journalists at the reopening of the Lekki Conservation Centre on Friday in Lagos.

Mr Soneye noted that the tree planting was in line with its Green Recovery Nigeria programme.

“Our Green Recovery Nigeria programme is the flagship programme for our tree planting activity, forest restoration and afforestation programme.

“Tree planting falls under this programme and we have been doing this for years. The programme was initiated in 2017.

“Last year, we planted over 2,000 trees, so this year, we will plant more, depending on the availability of funds and partnership.

“As you know, non-governmental organisations does not have money to execute any project but partners,” he said.

Mr Soneye said the foundation was ready to plant as many trees as possible if there were partners.

“If we have state government or Federal Government agencies that are ready to give us land and money we are always ready to plant trees,” he said.

On the reopening of the Lekki Conservation Centre, Mr  Soneye said that the shutdown was to achieve a greater experience for tourists.

“After festival periods, we shut down for maintenance and checks to be sure the facilities are in good order.

“In the course of our maintenance, we discovered that we need to do some repairs so we extended it.

“The Lagos State Government and Lagos State Safety Commission visited the Lekki Conservation Centre to conduct an on-site assessment of the maintenance and repairs on the facilities.

“We made repairs on the canopy walk, boardwalk and some facilities around the family park were also repaired,” he said.

Mr Soneye, who said that millions of naira were spent to enable tourists to enjoy nature, added that the centre would be open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

“Because this is an eco tourist centre during the festive period we always expect large crowds.

“Any visit here is a memorable experience. You have all manner of snakes, monkeys and animals. We have a tree house which is the tallest tree in this forest.

“We also have the longest canopy walk in Africa. Come around and your experience will not be the same,” he said.

One of the tourists who spoke with journalists, Adam Hilelly, said he enjoyed the canopy walk and the wind was great in spite of the heat.

“I will recommend Lagos as a whole to my friends. I am based in Senegal and I have been here for  six days and it’s been lovely,” he said.

The Lekki Conservation Centre was reopened after being closed for about two months for some routine maintenance and repairs.

The centre was established in 1990 to serve as biodiversity, conservation icon and environment education centre.

The Lekki Conservation Centre is a home to abundant plants and wildlife and plays a vital role in preserving the region’s ecosystem.

The centre is also a home to the longest canopy walkway in Africa, offering 360-degree views from above the treetops.

(NAN)