By Ovat Abeng
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has said that changing the negative report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), few years ago that Onitsha is the most polluted in the world, is the major reason why he is developing the commercial city of the State.
Soludo disclosed this while speaking to journalists shortly after flagging off Tree Planting Campaign at Port Heart Court road Fegge Onitsha, on Saturday.
The governor, who spoke through the State Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Felix Odimegwu, said keeping Onitsha and Anambra at large clean, green and beautiful top his vision of making the state livable and prosperous in Nigeria.
The Commissioner assure that the ugly impression will be a reverse case before the end of the eight years Soludo led-APGA Government in the state.
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“We have to embrace the earth, not minding that we sometimes have natural disasters but with proper planning and programmes like the Anambra Tree Planting Day, slated for every June 10th, we can always be ready for any form of disaster, be it natural or man-made.”
He added that tree planting is essential as a means of combating climate change challenges such as desertification, drought, and erosion amongst others.
According to him, Ndi-Anambra must commend the achievement of the State Government in the Greening and Restoration of Indigenous Trees project towards curbing climate change challenges.
“As a result of the WHO report, the governor shortly after he was sworn-in in March 17th, 2022, he swiftly moved down to Okpoko slum, where he commenced the beautification exercise by evacuating the long awaiting refused heaps to correct the WHO’s impression about the city.
Engr Odimegwu urged the Onitsha traders and residents to protect the newly planted trees, noting that if mature, it will not only beautify the city, but it will also protect the land for nature and restoration of the planet.
In their separate remarks, the Transition Committee Chairman of Onitsha North Council Area, Hon. Tony Nworah and his Onitsha South counterpart, Hon Emeka Joseph Orji, commended the governor for the initiative and other achievements recorded so far in terms of road construction, youth empowerment programmes and other sectors of the economy within the space of two years in office.
The due promised to secure and sensitized the people the more on the need to key into the tree planting programme for the good of all.
It was gathered that a total of 200 trees where planted during the flagged off ceremony that also has in attendence the State Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, the governor’s press secretary, Christian Aburime, members of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Anambra State Chapter, Onitsha community/market leaders, among others.
