Sustainability: Dangote plants 10,000 Mangrove trees, kicks off mega environmental restoration project

*Dangote Industries Limited activates a restoration project of planting 10,000 mangrove trees across coastal states, in Nigeria, noting the initiative is to ensure the country keeps providing employment and empowerment through sustainability projects

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has activated a restoration project of planting 10,000 mangrove trees across coastal states in Nigeria.

The tree-planting project is aimed at enhancing the conglomerate’s environmental sustainability initiatives in line with global best practices.

The DIL, in a statement Thursday, October 31, 2024, said the project, in partnership with Eco-Restoration Foundation kickstarted at Akodo-Ise, Ibeju-Lekki, in Lagos State.

The project was designed to minimise the global effects of climate change by promoting restoration, conservation, and protection of mangrove trees across the country.

In his remarks at the event, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, Vice-President, Oil and Gas at DIL, revealed that “one of the primary reasons of the Dangote Group is to ensure that Nigeria keeps providing employment and lifting the people out of poverty through sustainability projects.

Edwin stated: “We are also committed to creating good climate scenarios where people can live long and their livelihoods cannot be taken away from them.

“Apart from absorbing more carbon from the atmosphere than other tree species, Mangrove Forests serve as vital buffers against coastal erosion, and are critical for preserving marine biodiversity and supporting millions of coastal dwellers whose livelihoods depend on healthy mangrove forests.”

Speaking after the flag-off of the tree planting exercise, Mr. James Adenuga, Group Chief HSSE and Sustainability, Dangote Industries Limited, also expressed excitement at the importance of this partnership and its alignment with the organisation’s focus on the sustainable development of Nigeria and Africa, with long term carbon offset targets.

Adenuga stated: “Environmental sustainability is one of the seven Sustainability Pillars of the Dangote Group, and preservation of the environment is one of our core priorities wherever we operate. We are glad to embark on this project.”

Speaking earlier during the tree planting exercise, a trustee of Eco-Restoration Foundation, Prince David Omaghomi, stated that the foundation “was more than thrilled to welcome Dangote Group as our largest corporate partner of the Eco-Park Mangrove Sanctuary & Research Centre to date.

Prince Omaghomi also explained further that Nigeria has lost 60 percent of the mangrove population, adding that Nigeria coastal line is at risk of going underwater in years to come if nothing is done.

He further stated: “This project is meant to promote mangrove restoration, conservation, and protection.

“Nigeria has lost 60 per cent of its mangrove forests.

“More ocean acidification will be expected in Nigeria due to climate change and rising sea level.”

The trustee of Eco-Restoration Foundation said: “In the next 100 years, the coastal lines in Nigeria will be covered by water.

“The great blue wall will run across the coast of Nigeria by using mangroves.”

He really noted: “We are happy to receive the Dangote Group here and with their brand being blue they are the blue Big Brother of Africa.

“Their (Dangote’s) pledge to plant 10,000 mangroves in phases over the next few months, underscores their commitment to environmental stewardship and resilience building along Nigeria’s coasts.”

Omaghomi stated: “With their continued support, we are confident that this project will spark a wave of community-based restoration activities all along Nigeria’s coastline, in line with our persistent calls for the commencement of the ‘Great Blue Wall of Africa’ built of mangrove forests – as a natural defense against rising sea levels and climate change.

“Without immediate action, our multi-billion-dollar industrial complexes, Sea Ports, Oil & Gas facilities, Tourism and entire Blue Economy will be exposed to the relentless advance of ocean acidification in the coming decades.”

The DIL said the tree planting exercise, which drew volunteer staff from Dangote Head Office, Falomo Ikoyi, Dangote Fertiliser Limited, Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals, and other units, attracted widespread commendation from the Onise of Akodo-Ise, Oba Ganiu Adebowale Adegbesan, senior officials of the Lagos State Government, and members of the Akodo-Ise community, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

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