By Felix Khanoba
The Federal Government has expressed delight over the need to establish a horticultural village as proposed by the Association of Flower, Nursery and Landscaping Practitioners, Abuja (AFNALPA).
Minister of State for Environment, Barr. Sharon Ikeazor, who made this known during the 10th anniversary celebration of AFNALPA in Abuja on Wednesday, conveyed the readiness of the government to collaborate with the association on the project.
Represented by Peter Bagudu, an assistant director at the ministry, Ikeazor also announced plans to partner with the association on its campaign to plant 10 million trees across Nigeria.
According to the minister, planting trees would go a long way to check the adverse effects of climate change.
On the request by AFNALPA for the establishment of a horticultural village, the minister said such a venture will be a welcome development, hence, it would be considered.
“The association specifically requested for horticultural village in Abuja, which is within the jurisdiction of FCT Minister, and I’m sure we are working towards that, and at the same time, the patron has also encouraged us that they too, can acquire their own land and develop their own village from there the government can come in.
“Talking about other states, well, they can reach out to the governor of each state, and then from there you can acquire the land as well,” the minister said.
She called on Nigerians to imbibe the habit of tree planting to protect the earth and humanity.
“Every individual, every person, and the government must plant a tree. Planting a tree means life. The moment the last tree is cut off the planet, there will be no life because that is the source of oxygen. “
Also speaking at the event, the President of AFNALPA, Mrs Mary Omoh, said the association was motivated to embark on the 10 million trees planting exercise across Nigeria having known the massive impact the project will make in the country.
Omoh revealed that the association has about 1,500 personnel across Nigeria who are willing to carry out the task.
“We want to do something for our country. We want to have an impact and that is why we came up with the planting of the 10 million trees, and this is achievable because we are more than 1500 members of this association all of us in different states in the country.
“We are having a collaboration, working together with the Federal Ministry of Environment with the Department of Parks and Recreation to be able to achieve this.
“We have our members in all the states. We have our association represented in all the states in Nigeria. So it is not it is not going to be a difficult task, and this is what we do. Some of us have spent 20 years in this business. This is our life. This is what we do. We are known for planting and that is all we do as an association.
“We are expecting the government to give us support. What we really want from the government is their endorsement, because we know there are private sectors that are ready to partner with us. We want the government to endorse it, supporters us in the little way they can then we are go to
“You know you have the mechanic village. You have other places that the government has allocated for certain businesses. That is why we are coming up to say the government should allocate a place for us to practice our business, to do flowers and to plant. To have nurseries, where we can plant all of these trees that we’re talking about,” Omo said.
