Environment

Heavy Rainfall: RSG Tasks Residents On Environment

Published

15 years ago

June 13, 2011

Following predictions of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) that Rivers State will this year witness unprecedented rainfall which will result in flooding and coastal erosion, the state government has called on residents to pay urgent attention to protecting the environment.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Rufus Godwin who made the call during this year’s World Environment Day celebration in Port Harcourt, said that to avert the imminent danger, residents of the state needed to embark on massive tree planting, desilt their drains that had been blocked by indiscriminate disposal of refuse and engage in other activities that would bring about cleaner, safer and healthier environment.

“There is going to be unprecedented rainfall that will carry with it the consequences of dustiness. We’re going to have rainstorm and windstorm and with it, you will have trees that will be violently uprooted. So you need to be very careful in your environment. Ensure that your trees are not too tall and poorly kept to constitute a risk of falling violently on passers by”, he said.

He enjoined members of the public to stop indiscriminate felling or trimming of trees but instead they should contact the Ministry of Environment to enlist the help of trained personnel.

The Permanent Secretary said the theme of this year’s World Environment Day Celebration “Forest; nature at your service”, should challenge everybody to be friendly to nature.

“The synergy, between plants and humans shows us the synergy of life. We all need to be together, one cannot exist without the other. And that is why the United Nations choose this year’s to challenge us to be friendly to nature, friendly to the trees”, he said.

In a goodwill message, the State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Andy Nweye appealed to local government chairmen in the state to tow the line of the Ministry of Environment and ensure that trees were planted in all the local government areas, adding that, that “is the only way we can help to reduce the issue of ozone layer depletion, climate change and all that”.

There were also good will messages from the Zonal Controller, Federal Ministry of Environment, Engr. Raymond Uzoho, Chairman, Rivers state Environmental Sanitation Authority, Mr. Isoboye Jack, the Executive Director, centre for Environmental and Community Development, Mr. John Akinnuba, and a representative of the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), Mr. Kingsley Nwogbid.

The highpoint of the event was the symbolic plantning of trees by the Permanent Secretary and some dignitaries.

Calista Ezeaku

Environment

Lagos State Government Refuted Resumed Monthly Sanitation

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Lagos State Government on Saturday refuted an online media report claiming that the state had resumed the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said no categorical statement had been made regarding the commencement date of the exercise.

Wahab explained that what he told newsmen after a project inspection tour last Sunday was that engagements with relevant stakeholders were still ongoing.

He said the state government had planned to begin with a sensitisation programme last week, but was constrained by logistics issues.

“The truth is, we were meant to start with a sensitisation programme last week, but we had a logistics issue. We need to find a day that is acceptable to all stakeholders,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the exercise might return very soon, adding that the official date would be communicated by the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The commissioner urged law-abiding residents to continue their lawful activities without hindrance, assuring them that adequate notice would be given before the exercise was reintroduced.

The monthly environmental sanitation, previously held on the last Saturday of every month between 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m., was suspended in November 2016 following a legal pronouncement restricting movement during the exercise.

However, renewed waste management challenges, including clogged drainage channels and indiscriminate refuse disposal, have sparked calls from residents for its reinstatement.

Environment

LAWMA Director Says Sweeping Reforms Have Improved Waste Collection

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, says sweeping reforms and infrastructure upgrades have significantly improved waste collection efficiency across the state.

Gbadegesin disclosed this to newdmen last week in Lagos state.

He said LAWMA expanded night cleaning operations and increased street sweeping coverage to 1,000 routes statewide.

He disclosed that 16,000 street sweepers were currently engaged across Lagos, supported by improved logistics and operational systems.

He said LAWMA acquired new equipment three years ago to complement Private Sector Participants (PSP) compactors and rehabilitated old trucks to strengthen fleet capacity.

He added that additional compactor trucks were expected in the coming months.

“Heavy-duty equipment is now deployed to clear legacy illegal dumpsites across communities,” he said.

Gbadegesin said LAWMA strengthened human capacity by expanding its advocacy department and deepening collaboration with Community Development Associations (CDAs) and local councils.

He revealed that each local government now operates a waste management task force, supported by LAWMA integration desks.

On waste-to-wealth initiatives, he disclosed that the Lagos State House of Assembly had ratified a concession agreement with ZoomLion to construct transfer loading stations and material recovery facilities.

The facilities, he said, would enable closure of the Olusosun and Solous landfills and process 4,000 tonnes of waste daily.

He said organic waste, which constitutes about 50 per cent of Lagos waste, would be converted into compost, while plastics would be recycled into waste bins.

Gbadegesin also disclosed plans for a 1,500-tonnes-per-day waste-to-energy plant in partnership with a Dutch firm, Harvest Waste.

He said the project was expected to generate 60 megawatts of electricity to support emerging industrial zones.

He further highlighted a pilot biogas plant at the Epe Food Market, which processes 500kg of organic waste daily to generate electricity for market operations.

He called for stronger media collaboration to enhance public awareness and behavioral change.

“Waste management is not just about equipment; it is about human behaviour, enforcement and strong regulatory systems,” he said.

He urged residents to utilise LAWMA’s toll-free lines and digital platforms to report service gaps instead of resorting to illegal dumping.

Environment

Ministry Of Environment To Validate A Landmark Policy To Advance Nigeria’s Economy

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Ministry of Environment last Thursday convened key stakeholders in Abuja to validate a landmark policy brief aimed at tackling marine litter to advance Nigeria’s transition to a circular economy.

Mrs Falmata Bukar-Kolo, the Deputy Director, Solid Waste Management and Technology Division in the ministry, warned that plastic pollution poses serious risks to aquatic ecosystems and public health.

She stated that microplastics have already entered the food chain through fish consumption, while clogged waterways, soil contamination, and greenhouse gas emissions from burning plastics are worsening the environmental crisis.

Bukar-Kolo said that plastics, though widely used, are non-biodegradable and persist in the environment for years.

She called for improved waste management systems, stronger enforcement of environmental regulations, and behavioural change amongst citizens and businesses.

Mr Clem Ugorji, Regional Coordinator of PROTEGO, emphasised on the urgency of action, saying Nigeria’s marine litter crisis carries environmental, economic, and reputational costs.

He expressed optimism that the 2025 to 2040 roadmap endorsed at the workshop would shift the country from prolonged dialogue to concrete implementation.

The event was organised in collaboration with PROTEGO (Prevention of Marine Litter in the Gulf of Guinea).

Discussions centred on a draft policy input paper titled “Policies, Institutional Set-up and Financing of Marine Litter Prevention in Nigeria,”.

These seeks to present insightful analysis and a set of recommendations to address the structural and financing gaps that have long hindered effective waste management, particularly plastic leakage from inland communities and waterways into the Atlantic Ocean.

The PROTEGO initiative is supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection and led by adelphi, with implementation in Nigeria by WASTE Africa and the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC).

The policy brief is a key delivery for one of the programme’s four impact areas – building capacities of public stakeholders.