Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has urged residents to make tree planting a collective responsibility, saying sustained action is needed to tackle erosion, climate change, flooding and environmental degradation.
Abiodun made the call at the 2026 Ogun Tree Planting Day in Abeokuta, where he described tree planting as an important step towards restoring degraded ecosystems and protecting the environment for future generations.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said the theme of the exercise, “Root for the Future: Plant a Tree, Heal the Earth,” was particularly relevant as climate change continued to affect communities, livelihoods and economic activities.
He said rising temperatures, flooding, prolonged dry seasons, land degradation and biodiversity loss were increasingly becoming realities for communities.
“Tree planting is not merely placing of seedlings into the soil but a reaffirmation of our collective responsibility to protect the environment, restore degraded ecosystems and secure a future where economic progress and environmental sustainability advance together,” Abiodun said.
The governor urged residents to go beyond participating in ceremonial tree-planting exercises by nurturing the seedlings and ensuring they survive to maturity.
He said Ogun remained committed to supporting national environmental objectives through investments in afforestation, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, green infrastructure, waste management, environmental sanitation and improved flood-control measures.
Abiodun also commended the state Ministries of Environment and Forestry for sustaining the annual tree-planting programme, noting that the initiative had grown beyond government to involve schools, tertiary institutions, corporate organisations, development partners and individual residents.
The governor’s call comes as Ogun continues to expand its environmental and climate-resilience programmes, including initiatives focused on cleaner cooking, improved sanitation, pollution control and environmental awareness.
Commissioner for Forestry, Taiwo Oludotun, said the state government had revived all six forest reserves that were previously moribund before the commencement of the Abiodun administration.
Oludotun added that Ogun now had a stronger forest cover, while stressing the importance of continued investment in forest management and protection.
Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said trees provided multiple environmental benefits, including carbon capture, improved air quality, water conservation, erosion control and wildlife habitats.
He added that trees also helped beautify urban areas and contributed to the physical and mental well-being of residents.
Oresanya urged residents to protect newly planted trees from damage and monitor their growth, warning that planting seedlings without proper maintenance would defeat the purpose of the exercise.
He described students and young people as “Environmental Champions of Tomorrow”, urging them to plant trees in schools, places of worship and communities.
The commissioner also called on residents to encourage others to embrace environmental protection and make tree planting part of their daily activities.
The state’s forestry programme has also taken on a security dimension. Earlier this year, Oludotun said tree-planting activities across Ogun’s forest reserves had helped make the areas less attractive to kidnappers, militant groups and land grabbers.
With the latest campaign, the state government is seeking to turn tree planting from an annual environmental event into a sustained community practice, with emphasis on protecting and nurturing the trees long after they are planted.
