Environment
MAESSAH: Organisation To Recruit 600 Volunteers
The Environmental Safety Corps, a Non-Governmental Organisation based in Abuja, said on Thursday that it would recruit 600 volunteers from each state of the federation to implement its sanitation programme tagged “MAESSAH’’.
The Coordinant-General of the organisation, Mr. Emenike Eme, said this in an interview with newsmen.
Eme said that the programme would complement the efforts of the environmental health officers nationwide, which he said, were not adequate in the country.
MAESSAH, according to him, stands for Mass Action for Environmental Sustainability, Sanitation and Hygiene.
According to him, the programme is a grassroots revolution on environmental protection, sanitation and hygiene.
“We are recruiting volunteers, boys and girls and we are gender sensitive so our targets is to recruit 300 males and 300 females in every state of the federation.
“We all know it today, that most of the diseases and sicknesses that are killing many people is preventable if our environment is clean.
“So, we want to create a situation whereby, there is a mass response and grassroots response to the issues of the environment, it is a collective effort.
“We are looking at the youth, pupils and students both at primary and secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
“What we do with them is that we make them join us as environmental foot soldiers, we impact knowledge on environment into them and we take them out into the communities to impact on larger communities.’’
Eme said the organisation would partner with the Federal Ministry of Environment and Environmental Health Council of Nigeria to increase sanitation coverage in the country.
He said that the NGO had developed strong partnership with the office of the President on Ethics and Value on behaviour modification in schools and some communities.
“The issues of environment violations are matters of behavior; we violate the natural order that is why we have climate change, we have dirty surroundings, we have mosquitoes and all these things coming on.
“We want to correct man’s behaviour, man’s attitudes towards the environment; that is why the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and value is very important to us.
“In fact, we are more enlightened and focused to see the issues clearly the way they are, that as a matter of fact, environmental violation occurs because of depreciation in value.
“People have lost value of things; people misbehave, environmental misbehaviour is the cause of everything that is happening negatively in the world today.’’
Eme said that the ESCORP provided a platform for active involvement of the Nigerian youths in scientifically designed and articulated programmes that would sustain the environment.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday, launched an awareness campaign, aimed at educating residents on the increasing impact of climate change.
The campaign also seeks to enlighten residents on the urgent need for personal and community protection measures.
During the launch in Uyo on Thursday, the Akwa Ibom Director of NOA, Mr Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, said that the campaign aims at enlightening residents, about the changes in weather patterns.
He said that this includes unpredictable rise in temperatures, and how these changes threaten public health across the state.
Mkpoutom noted that the current weather was not harmattan, but an extreme form of air pollution, which is harmful to health as it could cause oxidative stress which affects body balance.
“Our environment is changing rapidly, and the effects are evident in the disruptions faced by our communities.
“It is paramount that every citizen of Akwa Ibom understands these changes and take necessary steps to protect themselves, their families, and their livelihoods,” he said.
He appealed to citizens to take the following precautions which include wearing of nose mask, drinking sufficient water, covering of food and water to keep away dust, washing fruits thoroughly before eating, among others.
He directed all NOA structures within the state to engage with local communities through town hall meetings and collaboration.
He also urged engagement with schools and community leaders, to disseminate vital information on early warning signs, as well as safety protocols during extreme weather conditions.
The Chairman of Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Ms Surah Animashaun, has urged traders of Aiyetoro and Oluwo fish markets to consistently ensure a hygienic trading environment.
She urged the traders to maintain cleanliness and observe proper environmental sanitation in the markets.
Animashaun said this during a visit to some of the market areas in Epe on Saturday.
She said that clean markets were critical to public health.According to her, poor sanitation could lead to the outbreak of communicable diseases, especially in fish markets, where waste management must be handled with extra care.
The council chairman urged traders to dispose of refuse appropriately, avoid indiscriminate dumping of waste, and ensure regular cleaning of stalls and surroundings
She noted that environmental hygiene is a collective responsibility, adding that everyone should be involved in this development.
Animashaun also warned that the local government would not hesitate to enforce existing environmental laws, including sanctions against defaulters.
She assured traders of the council’s commitment to providing adequate waste disposal facilities and regular monitoring to sustain a clean and healthy market environment.
The council boss also urged traders to desist from selling by the roadside, so as to avoid accidents, noting that several motor accidents had occurred along the Aiyetoro market area.
“We, therefore, urge traders to stop selling on the roadside,” she said.
President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mrs Margaret Oguntala, has inaugurated the construction of 18 units residential terrace in highbrow Alausa area of Lagos toward bridging the nation’s shelter gap.
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