Environment
NGO Urges FG To Implement Green Wall Programme
Africa Desertification Control Initiative, a Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO), on Tuesday advised the Federal Government to take a holistic approach to the implementation of the Great Green Wall Initiative.
The Executive Director of the NGO, Mr. Umar Dahiru, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Dahiru said that a holistic implementation of the initiative would ensure its success and sustainability.
He said the advice became necessary considering that about 21, 000 squares kilometers of land was affected by desertification yearly going by statistics from experts, describing the situation as “alarming’’.
The Great Green Wall Programme (GGWP) is a project developed by the African Union to address social, economic and environmental impact of land degradation and desertification in the Sahel and Sahara zones.
Dahiru said that the project would be implemented in 11 African countries and would cover about 7,775 kilometres in length, 15 kilometres in width over a total area of 11, 662,500 hectares.
The project is also expected to be implemented in 11 front line states in Nigeria. The states are Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Yobe.
“It is a gigantic project; my advice for the Federal Government is to give it a holistic approach because serious problems like desertification needs serious attention but I think the government is doing well in that respect.
“I learnt that the Federal Government had made provision to source and plant 10 million seedlings this year for their own part of Great Green Wall Initiative component, which I think is a good development.
“All the same, I think the National Assembly is making effort to establish a commission to combat desertification and erosion control, which is a very good initiative also.
“Desertification is a major environmental problem we are having in this country apart from other environmental issues like erosion, oil spillage and other things.“
Dahiru said that the security challenges in the northern parts of the country should not be allowed to affect the implementation of the Great Green Wall Initiative in the 11 front line states.
The environmentalist also urged the federal government to ensure that it implemented all environmental policies aimed at mitigating the impact of desertification in the country.
He commended the government for designing “good environmental policies“ but expressed concern at “the lack of political will to implement them”.
“They (Federal Government) should take these issues very serious because when the land is degraded due to erosion, oil spillage, desertification and all forms of land degradation, the resulting effect is that it will affect the livelihood of the people.
“It will render people jobless, and if people don’t have something to do, you know the consequences – there will be social, economic, and security threat to the country.
“The government should always give it the required attention that it deserves; the policies that we have on paper should be fully implemented.
“Also, the people that are capable of doing the job should be placed in the proper positions so that the job could be done effectively; so that we will achieve result at the end of the day.“
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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