Experts lament decline in Lagos urban greening
The forum recommended that Park system should be established which would provide for active and passive recreation at town level — in the immediate valleys of the river system .
FACED with negative effects associated with climate change and inability of Nigerians to preserve green areas in Lagos and other cities, experts have called for the revival of urban greening.
A landscape architect, and lecturer at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Lagos, who spoke at the first Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency Greening Stakeholders Forum held at the Muson Centre, Onike, Lagos, emphasised the importance of urban greening, noting that it epitomises the incorporation of socio-cultural values in environmentally organised human settlements.
Another speaker, Mr Adile Iroajugh, who spoke on “Stakeholders Involvement & Engagement in City Greening Initiative”, reminded the participants that the 1st Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June, 1992, which was based on the principle of sustainable development.
Iroajuah stated that “Agenda 21” calls on governments to adopt national strategies for sustainable development and that the strategies should be developed with wide participation, including non-government organisations and the public.
A foremost environmentalist with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Dr. Desmond Majekodunmi, lamented the conversion of Ikoyi Park to a residential estate, now called Park View Estate.
To Majekodunmi, Old Lagos was green, citing places such as Race Course, now Tafawa Balewa Square, Ikoyi Park, among others that were centre of recreation to Lagos residents of all categories.
“But force of power by the military destroyed what made Lagos tick. Ironically, the beautiful Ikoyi Park was destroyed and renamed Park View without any park created in it”.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, emphasised that environmental regeneration and sustainability has an integral part of the programmes of the Lagos State government since 1999. He noted that the achievements recorded in this regard are evident in the remarkable transformation of the state’s environmental landscape; that his administration is committed to continue along these lines and take it even further.
At the end of the programme, the forum recommended that Park system should be established which would provide for active and passive recreation at town level — in the immediate valleys of the river system .
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1 Comments
They say a wealthy population is one that is healthy.
Of what use is it to emulate good social programmes in other nations yet fail to add the one that complement them – green areas and parks, which provide space for recreational activities for both children and adults? Lagos roads are not ideal for jogging, particularly for the elderly.
Lagos State, with its teeming population of workers and mostly traders who wake up as early as 4 am everyday to catch the bus to their various destinations, is obligated to build such places for this purpose. Unlike an attempt that was made right in the middle of an express way somewhere around the Oworo axis, parks should be located away from busy and noisy areas with transport facilities provided in addition to regular guards and cleaners.
Some of the social programmes embarked upon by the state in the past have not impacted on the society because of the absence of these parks. Calling out a section of the populace to engage them in occasional recreational activities in front of TV cameras under an atmosphere laden with fumes from auto engines, is not the ideal way to activate the population for recreational activity…
We will review and take appropriate action.