By Abbas Nazil
Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has partnered with the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) to plant more than 20,000 indigenous trees at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment of the Nigerian Army in Abuja.
The tree planting exercise, held last Friday, was described as a landmark step towards environmental sustainability and Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to tackle deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity loss.
The initiative combined the technical expertise of FRIN in species selection and ecological suitability with NCF’s decades of conservation knowledge and community engagement, while Julius Berger provided funding and organizational support.
The collaboration brought together stakeholders from the public, private, and military sectors in a joint demonstration of commitment to protecting the environment.
Representing the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. O.O. Oluyede, Major General J.Y. Maina emphasized the importance of environmental sustainability to national security.
He stated that climate change, desertification, and environmental degradation posed long-term threats to Nigeria’s stability, stressing that tree planting was both an ecological necessity and a strategic investment in the country’s collective future.
He commended Julius Berger for its leadership and noted that the partnership was a shining example of how the military, government agencies, and private sector could unite to promote sustainable development.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of NCF, Dr. Joseph Onoja, the Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Garba Boyi, highlighted the foundation’s Green Recovery Nigeria initiative, which seeks to restore vegetation cover in the country.
He lamented that Nigeria has less than ten percent of its vegetation cover left and said the foundation felt a strong responsibility to contribute to reversing the trend.
Boyi expressed gratitude to Julius Berger for sponsoring the exercise, describing the company’s involvement as a major boost to the project and proof of its commitment to environmental responsibility.
Dr. Okechukwu Ogbonna, Chief Executive of Ceed Africa Limited, also thanked Julius Berger for its funding support, while Prof. Zacharia Buba Yadura, Director of FRIN, acknowledged the construction giant for stepping in as a partner at a critical time.
He said the project might not have been possible without Julius Berger’s support.
Other dignitaries at the event included the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Mahmud Adam Kambari, representing the Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, senior Nigerian Army officials, FRIN representatives, and NCF coordinators.
Julius Berger’s delegation was led by Emmanuel Isibor, Daniel Isichei, and Uzoma Olivia, who reiterated the company’s long-standing commitment to sustainability.
The tree planting campaign is expected to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s reforestation drive, create green cover within the cantonment, and promote biodiversity recovery in the Federal Capital Territory.
The initiative reflects a broader push by stakeholders to align national development projects with environmental sustainability, ensuring that security, ecology, and economic growth are pursued together.
With over 20,000 trees now planted, the project stands as one of the largest single-location reforestation exercises in Abuja in recent years.
