Massive Tree Planting Coming — FG Targets 20bn in One Season
Vice President Kashim Shettima says the federal government plans to plant 20 billion trees in the next rainy season.
Shettima made this known on Saturday during a visit to Ethiopia, where he toured agricultural and industrial sites, including Adama Dairy Farms, Luke Avocado Nursery, Shera Dibandiba Mojo Family Integrated Farm, Biyyo Poultry Farm, and Bishoftu Pea Farm.
His visit coincided with the launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative.
“We intend to plant 20 billion trees in the next rainy season,” Shettima said. “It requires a lot of planning, energy, and drive — which Ethiopia was able to galvanise its population into doing.”
Shettima referred to Ethiopia’s initiative as an example for other African countries. “I was overwhelmed with joy that the real economic renaissance of Africa is in the offing,” he said.
“Ethiopia has become the pathfinder, the front runner in us reclaiming our pride and our continent. We are mightily proud of them,” he added.
He pointed out that Ethiopia’s large population gives weight to its success. “The success of Ethiopia will reverberate across the length and breadth of East and Southern Africa,” he said.
Shettima also noted Ethiopia’s shift in wheat production. “Ethiopia has moved from importing $1 billion worth of wheat annually to exporting to countries like Djibouti and Kenya,” he said.
“If Nigeria and Ethiopia work, Africa will work. Jointly, the two of us constitute over 350 million people, more than the population of the United States. We have to make these two countries work harmoniously for the betterment of our continent,” he said.
Kingsley Uzoma, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, said: “President Bola Tinubu has a whole lot of respect for the people of Ethiopia. Why we came here is to understudy what we have seen and report back to him. I believe that he will replicate this in a much stronger and bolder scope.”
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