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By Tracy Moses
The House of Representatives has called for urgent action to halt the rampant cutting down of trees and the steady disappearance of green spaces within the National Assembly Complex and the surrounding Three Arms Zone in Abuja.
The call followed the adoption of a motion on “Promoting Sustainable Green Practices on Tuesday sponsored by Hon. Jesse Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, who expressed concern over the growing environmental neglect around one of Nigeria’s most symbolic public institutions.
Onuakalusi condemned what he described as the “unrestrained clearing of trees” to make way for new construction projects, many of which are being executed without environmental impact assessments or reforestation plans. He warned that such activities not only degrade the ecosystem but also contradict Nigeria’s commitments to global climate action frameworks and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to him, heaps of chopped tree trunks and firewood now litter parts of the Three Arms Zone, showing that felled trees are being harvested for domestic and commercial use, a development he described as “environmentally irresponsible.”
The lawmaker stressed that the National Assembly, as the highest legislative institution in the country, must lead by example in promoting sustainability, environmental protection, and responsible urban development.
“The National Assembly, as a beacon of leadership and a custodian of democratic ideals, must not only advocate sustainability but also live it,” Onuakalusi stated. “We must reflect this commitment in the way we plan, build, and preserve our environment.”
He noted that while ongoing construction projects in the area are intended to enhance infrastructure, they should not come at the cost of environmental destruction. He also commended the Speaker of the House for his consistent advocacy on climate action, saying the legislature must translate its words into tangible actions that safeguard the environment.
Following deliberations, the House urged the Clerk to the National Assembly to immediately implement a tree replacement policy to ensure that every tree cut down within or around the complex is replaced with at least three indigenous species. It also mandated the National Assembly Management, in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), the Ecological Fund Office, and other relevant agencies, to conduct a comprehensive audit of all green areas lost to construction and farming activities in the Three Arms Zone.
The Committees on Environment and Habitat and the Federal Capital Territory were further directed to work with relevant authorities to develop and enforce a Green Infrastructure Development Framework that integrates tree preservation, landscaping, and ecological protection into all future construction plans in the area.
In addition, the House resolved to establish a Legislative Green Task Force to coordinate, promote, and monitor environmental sustainability initiatives within the precincts of the National Assembly.
The lawmakers also condemned, in strong terms, the indiscriminate felling of trees and urged all government agencies and contractors operating within the Three Arms Zone to align their activities with Nigeria’s National Climate Change Policy and global environmental obligations.