Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has assured people of the State of enhanced attention in the areas urban regeneration and environmental accountability in the New Year.

Fashola who disclosed this at tree planting programme that attracted eminent Nigerians like General Theophilus Danjuma to commemorate the 75th birthday of the founder of Fight Against Desert Encroachment (FADE), Dr Newton Jibunoh, said that environmental issues are the most topical in the world.

He added that issues relating to the environment determine the economy, the health status of the people and the sustenance of businesses.

The governor said that between 2008 and now, Lagos has planted about 4.2million trees, a figure which he said was still not enough.

Fashola noted that the government was trying to regenerate and replant the trees but expressed the fear that the trees have only stayed alive because those who make a business of felling trees have perhaps not found a chain saw strong enough to attack them, and added that it was everybody's business to protect the cluster of trees.

He added that all those who have fraternised with the Conservation Foundation have lived on to become 90 and beyond.

"Really, businesses, factories, car assembly plants will be consumed if the environment wins this last battle. It is the final battle. Our engagement with nature has been one of a constant battle. Many times we have won, the engineers have propelled us to greater heights to overcome nature and control it.