The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has called on Nigerians, particularly the youth, to plant trees to combat the adverse effects of climate change.

A Director of Agricultural Lands and Climate Change Management Services at the ministry, Oshadiya Olanipekun, made the call on Wednesday, in Abuja.

Mr Olanipekun, represented by Anna Kalu, said that the ministry was committed to the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which included ensuring food security.

The event with the theme, “Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience,’’ was organised by a non-governmental organisation, Caritas Nigeria, to mark this year’s World Environment Day.

He outlined the severe impact of climate change on global food security, advocating that “when you cut one tree, ensure you plant two trees to replace that one.”

“Climate change is driven by human activities like deforestation and release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These exacerbate global warming. Deforestation, the act of cutting down trees which serve as carbon sinks by absorbing carbon dioxide, is identified as a major contributor to climate change,” he said.

He highlighted the environmental consequences such as land degradation and drought, especially in Nigeria’s northern regions.

He added, “To address these challenges, the ministry, in collaboration with international donors and local communities, is implementing land restoration projects like Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACRESAL) in 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory. In observance of World Environment Day, the ministry stressed the importance of individual actions in mitigating climate change. When we burn, we release potent greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. To counter this, we must engage in afforestation through planting trees to reduce carbon dioxide levels and lower global temperatures.’’

Earlier, the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rev. Fr Zachariah Samjumi, emphasised the critical role of the environment in human survival.

He recalled the recent cholera outbreaks caused by environmental contamination, saying that it underlined the need for a clean and healthy environment.

Mr Samjumi made reference to Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical on the environment which had been globally recognised and discussed at high-level meetings like the G7.

He commended students and schools for their involvement in environmental initiatives and encouraged them to reflect their environmental knowledge in their daily lives.

On his part, a director in the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Osi Braimah, said that the engagement of religious leaders and communities in climate change issues was critical in promoting sound environmental practices

Braimah, represented by Ezekiel Oye-Ojo, further explained that together, humanity could foster a culture of sustainability and stewardship of the earth.

Braimah said, “I urge each of you to take action in protecting our environment. Simple actions, such as reducing waste, conserving water, and planting trees, can make a significant difference. Let us commit to promoting sustainable development and ensuring a healthy environment for future generations and ourselves.’’

In his presentation, a geographical information systems consultant to Caritas Nigeria, Udeaja Ikenna, urged the government to provide a central water board system that would supply water instead of individual sinking their boreholes.

“Nigerians are so insensitive to the sinking of boreholes in the country. You discover each compound sinking their boreholes. Geologists tell us that in the near future, we are prone to earthquakes. Any slightest movement, an earthquake will happen. So what about the government having a central water board that will supply water instead of people sinking boreholes?

“Or better still, why not one or three houses use one borehole? Instead of each house having a private borehole?” 

(NAN)