ibironkeeniola 
Lagos state government has said it would replace old unproductive trees along the 135-kilometre Badagry to Ibeju-Lekki coastline by planting one million coconut seedlings.
General Manager of the Lagos State Coconut Development Authority (LASCODA), Dapo Olakulehin, explained that depletion of the coastline due to human activities mandated the rehabilitation.
Olakulehin made the disclosure after the Authority’s visit to its formation and coconut plantations in the Badagry area of the state.
He further noted that the action was necessary because the coconut trees serve as a shield for the mainland part of the state.
The manager also explained that the shrinking belt was negatively affecting the environment while the old trees no longer effectively served their purposes.
“The Lagos State Government under the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is ready to reverse this trend by massively repopulating the coconut belt in Lagos through multi-agency and inter-ministerial cooperation,” Olakulehin said.
He, however, added that the project would be executed in partnership with the private sector and consultation with the coastline communities.
He said, “We want to do it consciously, we want to reclaim the land, but we need to carry along the communities in the area and we are starting almost immediately to rehabilitate the coconut belt along the coastline.
“The coconut trees along the ocean belt are a natural shield to the ocean but these coconut trees are reducing every day. This is why we are having ocean surges and other environmental challenges.
“Our objective is to restore the coconut back to its old place by the ocean belt.”
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA