By Paul Jatau
In the past, Jos, the Plateau State capital, was often compared with Dakar, the capital of Senegal. This comparism was not based on weather, far from it. Jos boasted a more temperate and pleasant climate. The true similarities lay in their aesthetics: both cities once featured well-paved centres, streets lined with trees that not only offered shade but also replenished oxygen and stabilised underground water tables. These are key factors in ecological balance.
As a young person growing up in Jos in the early 1970s, walking from West of Mines to St. Theresa’s Boys School was both exciting and daunting. A densely forested area lay between our home and the school. The mango trees that lined the streets stirred both fear and wonder in our impressionable young minds. Going to school was not just routine, it was an adventure, enhanced by nature’s lush presence.
The city centre then, with streets like Rwang Pam, Shendam, Langtang, Church and the Old Bukuru Park areas, was a magnificent sight to behold. These streets, beautifully paved and shaded with assorted trees, stood near key attractions like the Jos Museum, the Zoological Garden and the bustling Jos Main Market. Together, they painted a vibrant portrait of a city in harmony with nature.
No doubt, trees contribute immensely to our wellbeing. Beyond providing oxygen, they help restore the ozone layer and regulate the water table. Their absence is already causing visible climate changes such as shorter rainy seasons, longer dry spells and intense heatwaves in Jos. The link between environmental degradation and migration conflicts is becoming increasingly evident, as people flee desertified zones in search of greener pastures, putting pressure on existing communities.
While previous administrations, including that of Jonah Jang, made efforts at tree planting, the outcomes were mostly symbolic. Though the then Environment Commissioner, Nankin Bagudu, took some initiatives, many of the trees planted along roads like Low-Cost and Domkat Bali were abandoned, with several eventually destroyed by wildfires due to lack of care.
Therefore, it is time for the Plateau State House of Assembly to act decisively. Enacting a law that mandates tree planting as part of building approvals would be a step in the right direction. Homeowners and business operators should be required to plant and nurture trees on their premises. This would not only support ozone restoration but also help stabilise local water sources. This is more so as water scarcity is biting harder and harder in the Jos/Bukuru metropolis.
Furthermore, government-led tree planting efforts must include provisions for their maintenance. Forestry departments should be empowered, equipped and held accountable. States like Kaduna and Nasarawa have successfully developed woodlands that now serve as environmental buffers. With its glorious pedigree in this respect, Plateau has no excuse.
The growing heat in Jos is a stark warning. The city once enjoyed extended rainy seasons and brief dry periods. But these salibrious conditions have now been altered by reckless deforestation. As a former tourist haven, Jos must reclaim its ecological identity. Talk is not enough. Action is needed; immediate and sustained action.
The present government must rise to the occasion and initiate a serious greening policy for Jos. Tree planting is not a luxury; it is an ecological and developmental necessity. As we are wont to say in Plateau State, the time to act is now … not later.(www.krestnews.com).
Paul Jatau, a veteran journalist and Public Affairs commentator writes from Jos, Plateau State, Central Nigeria.