***Cautions Against Defo
restation in Kogi, Distributes Seedling.
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has cautioned against felling of trees without replacement and clogging of drainages with sewage if drought, erosion, flooding and other environmental disasters must be checked.
Engr Joan Oguche, Kogi State Coordinator of N-HYPPADEC made the call on Wednesday while on Tree planting campaigns to institutions and communities in Lokoja as part of activities marking the 2024 World Environment Day.
Oguche said the celebration provided opportunity for humans to appreciate the environment saying, “It’s a day that we look around to see what we can do to appreciate the environment and make it a better place for habitation.”
She said that N-HYPPADEC was celebrating this year’s World Environment Day in collaboration with National Environmental Society and Kogi Ministry of Environment.
Speaking at the premises of the state Environment Ministry, Engr Oguche said the celebration would feature road walk distribution of flyers lectures on what to do before and after floods, how to keep your environment clean, aim of planting of trees, and others.
Commissioner for Environment, Engr Joseph Olusegun represented by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry, Alhaji Jibrin Saidu said this year’s theme of the World Environment Day was apt.
He said, “This year’s theme of the World Environment Day Is ‘Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience’ and these three key words or phrases are key to achieving the 17th goal of Sustainable Development. 
“One of the ways of curtailing deforestation and drought is by planting trees. That is why when we started our journey, we came with trees to plant here today, so that we can help limit the menace of deforestation and drought”, the Commissioner said.
Speaking at the Federal University Lokoja, Felele Campus, Dr Thompson Ekele, Kogi State Chairman of National Environmental Society, said one of the best ways to control drought and desertification was by planting trees.
“We have come with those trees. So we want to lead by example. We’ll hand over these to you to plant. And again we don’t want this to stop here. As you go home, tell your parents to plant trees. As we do that, the environment will be a better place”, he said.
Prof. Yusuf Abdullahi, Dean of Students Affairs in FUL, appreciated the partnership between the University and N-HYPPADEC saying that it had been highly beneficial.
The Dean said that planting of trees was one of the cardinal goals, one of the objectives of the University to make the campus to look green and also assist in checking the perennial erosions that threaten the campus on yearly basis.
“That means that these trees that you have donated to us will go a long way in helping us to check erosions and not only that, it shall also provide shades for our students to take rest after lectures”, Prof. Abdullahi said.
Highlights of the celebration by N-HYPPADEC include road walk, distribution of fliers, planting of trees, lectures, sensitization of women on environmental sanitation (rendered in pidgin English), sewage disposal, personal hygiene as well as visits to traditional rulers. (Ends)