Anambra to import grass from Kenya

Pamela Eboh, Awka

The Anambra State Government will import grass from Kenya as part of its efforts to control erosion, Governor Willie Obiano has disclosed. He made the disclosure on Friday at the Kenneth Dike Library in Awka while launching the one million trees planting campaign for the state.

The governor revealed that his administration would acquire a special breed of grass from Kenya used in erosion control.

Obiano explained that the Kenyan breed of grass be planted in very large quantities in erosion-prone parts of the state. He harped on the need for the people to shun habits that encourage erosion such as undue felling of trees, total interlocking of homesteads, building on drainages, among others.

The green initiative, which is geared towards realising the administration’s vision of a sustainable, beautiful and environment-friendly Anambra State, will see the planting of trees of various kinds in homes and other public places across the state.

The initiative was the outcome of the visit made by a state delegation to Lagos State to understudy the state’s greenery revolution as regards environmental management.

While performing the function, Obiano noted that the tree planting initiative is of more significant to the state because of its overwhelming erosion challenges and the need to galvanise and create awareness on the importance of imbibing a healthier environmental habit by the public.

He said that his administration aims to use the campaign to get the state at par with most developed cities of the world that have made significant achievements in the area of greenery revolution through the introduction of the “one child one tree” initiative in schools in partnership with the Ministry of Education. This, Obiano said, will help to ensure that pupils and students are exposed early in life to tree planting and its benefits to the environment.

He urged the people to support the public to join the campaign for preservation of the environment by supporting the initiative.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the Committee implementing the initiative and Managing Director, Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Mr. Mike Okonkwo, noted that though a government initiative, the project must be driven by the people to realise its objectives.

He said that the target of a million trees is achievable if only all stakeholders would participate actively in the process.

On his part, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mechanization, Processing and Export, Mr Afam Mbanefo, pointed out that the initiative will in no mean measure give impetus to the Governor's Agric development agenda as the people will develop the habit of planting.

In their separate remarks, a Member representing Njikoka 2 Constituency at the state House of Assembly and Pete Ibida and an environmental expert, Ralph Nnabuife hailed the Governor for the initiative which they observed will have positive health implications for people living in the state.