Ogun Targets One Million Trees in ‘One Citizen, One Tree’ Campaign
The Ogun State Government has announced an ambitious plan to plant one million trees across all 20 local government areas before the end of this year’s planting season, in a bid to combat climate change, deforestation, and flooding.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, represented by the Commissioner for Forestry, Oludotun Taiwo, made the disclosure on Saturday during the 2025 Ogun Tree Planting Day, organized by the Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Ministries of Forestry, Physical & Urban Development, Housing, and Community Development.
Abiodun said the initiative, themed “Plant and Grow Trees, Sustain Life”, would be driven through a “One Citizen, One Tree” campaign.
He explained that trees not only produce oxygen and improve air quality but also help regulate urban temperatures, provide food and medicine, and reduce the risk of floods caused by environmental degradation.
“Today we are not just planting trees; we are planting hope, health, and the future of Ogun State,” the governor stated. “Climate change is real. We have seen long dry seasons, flash floods washing away dams, and rising temperatures affecting both humans and livestock. These are local problems that require local solutions.”
According to him, the state will also train 500 youths and women as green ambassadors, establish community trees in each local government, integrate tree planting into school curricula, and link it to market sanitation programs.
Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the Abiodun-led administration has a comprehensive decarbonization plan to make Ogun more livable, especially as an industrial hub. He stressed that tree planting in the state is “strategic, scientific, and survival-driven,” with a focus on partnering with industries and rewarding schools, groups, and institutions that excel in planting efforts.
Commissioner for Physical and Urban Development, Tunji Odunlami, in his goodwill message, emphasized that “tree is life,” urging developers to avoid indiscriminate felling during construction projects.
The Nigeria Conservation Foundation’s representative, Adeyemo Olayomade, assured that the organization would work to ensure the planted trees are nurtured to maturity.
With the campaign already underway, the Ogun State Government hopes the one million trees will serve as a natural defense against climate challenges while enhancing the state’s green cover and environmental resilience.
