The Leprosy Mission Nigeria has declared that a healthy environment is essential to human survival.

The TLMN made the observation through Rev. Dr. Solomon Bityong who is one of its project partners with the Great Britain which donated and planted the economic trees at the Leprosarium in Minna, Niger State.

He called on well meaning Nigerians to emulate the gesture so that the challenges posed by climate change could be tackled.

Earlier, the Project Officer, TLMN, Minna, Mr. Habila Diko, who,  presented the trees to the community said the gesture was an effort to tackle the effects of climate change.

Dikko also noted that the essence is to integrate environmental sustainability and tree planting primarily through the Mission’s climate-smart agriculture and livelihood programs.

He stressed that the actions aligned with the broader environmental commitment of The Leprosy Mission International, which he said aims to promote clean, healthy and eco-friendly environment.

Dikko noted further, “The essence of this gesture is to integrate environmental sustainability and tree planting primarily through the Mission’s climate-smart agriculture and livelihood programs. It is also an effort to tackle the effects of climate change.

“The action aligns with the broader environmental commitment of The Leprosy Mission International to promote clean, healthy and eco-friendly environment,” he said.

The Leprosy community leader in Minna, Bello Umar, while commending the TLMN gave assurance that the trees would be well tendered and preserved.

Another leader, Hauwa Usman, an elderly woman in the community, who hailed the TLMN said for the gesture said due to the scorching heat, they usually went as far as their farmlands to rest under the trees where they could  get shades, stressing that with these trees they could now enjoy shades in their compounds.

Our correspondent reports that among the tree varieties planted by the various groups in the community and partners included 20 orange trees, 20 mango trees and 20 palm trees.