Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed all 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas to serve as tree custodians, as the state pushes to plant 20,000 trees before the end of 2026.
The directive came during the 2026 Tree Planting Day celebration held at Eko Amore Gardens, Freedom Way, Lekki. Sanwo-Olu was represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin.
The governor disclosed that 13,401 trees, representing 67 per cent of the annual target, had already been planted across the state’s five divisions as of June 30. A new planting campaign will run through the rainy season until October.
Lagos Tree Planting Drive Targets All 57 LGAs
Sanwo-Olu charged council chairmen to personally monitor and protect trees planted within their jurisdictions. Each custodian authority is expected to track newly planted trees for a minimum of 12 months to improve survival rates.
He also reminded residents that anyone who unlawfully fells a tree is required under Lagos State law to replace it with five. The governor unveiled 20 Lagos Tree Champions, individuals and organizations recognized for their contributions to the state’s greening program.
Residents were encouraged to collect free tree seedlings from Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency nurseries located in Ikorodu and Agege. Details on the seedling distribution process were not immediately available.
The Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources spokesperson, Adekunle Adeshina, released the governor’s statement to journalists on Tuesday.
Sanwo-Olu said, “We are not just planting trees; we are planting hope and a lasting legacy. Together, we can build a Lagos that is cooler, cleaner, safer, flood-resilient, and more beautiful for future generations.”
Environment Commissioner Describes Tree Planting as Strategic Climate Intervention
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, addressed the gathering and described the annual exercise as a strategic intervention against climate change rather than a ceremonial activity.
Wahab said the 2026 theme, “Trees for Lagos: Our City, Our Responsibility,” placed responsibility for environmental protection on every resident and institution in the state.
He said, “The celebration goes beyond a ceremonial event. It serves as a reminder that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility.”
Wahab pointed to rising temperatures, flooding, land degradation, and biodiversity loss as evidence that urgent climate action was needed. He described tree planting as one of the most cost-effective nature-based responses available to urban governments.
All 57 LGAs and LCDAs have been formally designated as Tree Custodians under the program. The commissioner said every resident should treat a planted tree as a long-term investment rather than a routine government activity.
He urged individuals, private businesses, and community groups to adopt environmentally responsible practices that would preserve Lagos’s natural heritage for future generations.
Hamzat, Other Officials Back Lagos Climate Resilience Push
The wife of the deputy governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, also addressed the gathering and said Lagos continued to battle challenges arising from rapid urbanization, rising temperatures, and persistent flooding.
Hamzat called on families, schools, faith-based organizations, market associations, and private sector operators to make tree planting a regular practice rather than an annual event. She described the exercise as an investment in the health, safety, and prosperity of future generations.
The Lagos tree planting program is part of the state government’s broader nature-based strategy for addressing environmental degradation and building climate resilience across the megacity.
Officials did not disclose the total budget for the 2026 planting season or the cost per seedling. The state government also did not provide a breakdown of how the 13,401 trees already planted were distributed across the five divisions.
With roughly 6,600 trees still needed to hit the 20,000 target, and the planting season running until October, the state government appears to be on course to meet its annual goal. Whether all planted trees will survive long-term will depend on how effectively the designated council custodians carry out their monitoring duties.
The ministry did not say when a progress report on the program would next be released to the public.
