Environment
Expert Urges Responsible Waste Management
An environmentalist, Dr
Bolanle Wahab, says responsible behaviour will build resilience of Lagos residents to flood disaster.
Wahab of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Ibadan, said this in Lagos during a City Resilience Workshop tagged: “Local Governments and Communities Working for a Climate Resilient Lagos.”
The workshop was organised by the Coastal Cities at Risk (CCaR-Lagos) led by University of Ibadan.
The CCaR is a five-year programme under the International Research Initiative on Adaptation to Climate Change (IRIACC).
The research project seeks to strengthen the capacity of four coastal megacities of Lagos, Bangkok, Manila and Vancouver to effectively respond to climate change and its impacts.
Wahab said that building resilience of Lagos to flooding would begin at the local government level.
According to him, recognition that risks and vulnerabilities for the various aspects of climate change in cities are shaped by local contexts and influenced by the actions and inactions of local communities.
He said that communities were key actors in building climate resilience based on their invaluable source of knowledge embedded in unique social, cultural, economic, political and physical realities.
The expert said that public and private agencies and community development associations must be in the vanguard and watchdogs in their respective localities to check unlawful actions.
“All of us must appreciate that we are stakeholders, we are contributors to flooding incidence in Lagos because solid waste is a driver of flooding.
“If we all engage in responsible waste management at household level by reuse and reducing the amount of waste generated and conversion of waste to gas, there will be less waste for the government to carry and the drains will be healthier.
“I do not usually buy fresh plastic bag whenever I go to the market to buy anything, I take the ones I have at home, if more people do this our environment will be better.
“The city will be resilient and healthier, not many houses will be flooded or collapse again and the livelihood of the people will be protected and secured.
“Our drains will be empty and storm water will be able to flow freely, but when we continue to choke the canal and drains with solid waste there will be flooding because rain will always fall,” Wahab said.
According to the expert, responsible behaviours in urban planning and development and in building sustainable infrastructure were crucial to resilient building in the state.
“If we must build bridges and culvert, they must be built to standard, built in anticipation of development that will take place in the next 10 years and the amount of groundwater that will pass through.
“We must learn to landscape. Most people do hard landscaping; they concrete the entire square metre of their compound, they do not plant grasses and percolation is inhibited.
“When we do this we are not creating a resilient community. We continue to be more vulnerable, exposed and we will keep having problems with flood.
“Agreed, Lagos is a low-lying coastal state and because of that we should not continue to exacerbate the situation by clogging the drains and erecting illegal structures,” he said.
He also advised residents to imbibe the culture of rain harvesting and conversion of collected rainwater to domestic use thereby reducing the volume of water fetched from well and borehole.
The Lead Researcher of CCaR, Dr Ibidun Adelekan, said that identifying and understanding the vulnerabilities of various communities would assist in addressing flood issues in the state.
Adelekan said that resilience could only be achieved through cumulative contribution of multiple interventions and actions overtime.
Dr Mayowa Fasona of the Department of Geography, University of Lagos, said that government should collaborate with the private sector in strengthening knowledge of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction for sustainable socio-economic development.
“Flooding will always occur in Lagos because of its coastal nature.
“As human, we have no power over nature, but we can change our attitude to reduce our exposure and vulnerabilities to its shocks and fast track our recovery systems,” Fasona said.
The Lagos State Government has commenced installation of new pumps at the Iju Headworks and Akute water intake stations.
The Tide source reports that the project is aimed at increasing water production, improving operational efficiency and expanding access to potable water across the state.
A statement issued by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) over the weekend said the project was approved and funded by the state government.
It said the installation was part of the rehabilitation of the Iju Headworks and Akute Intake Station under Lots 1, 2 and 3.
According to LWC, the rehabilitation is designed to modernise water production facilities, strengthen operations and improve public water supply.
The Network of Female Professionals in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Nigeria (FEMinWASH) and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) are set to partner on gender-responsive systems strengthening, capacity development and WASH initiatives.
The partnership was proposed during a courtesy visit by a FEMinWASH delegation, led by its President and Convener, Dr Boluwaji Onabolu, to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, in Abuja.
Onabolu, who conveyed greetings from FEMinWASH Patron, retired Engineer Ebele Okeke, commended Walson-Jack for upholding the Federal Civil Service’s EPIC values of Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-centred leadership.
She praised the HoCSF’s efforts in advancing gender inclusion in WASH and the civil service, including the development of the National Gender in Water Resources Mainstreaming Policy and mentoring programmes for women leaders.
Onabolu also highlighted the INSPIRE (Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women) programme, aimed at strengthening women’s leadership and inclusion.
She said FEMinWASH was seeking a formal partnership and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the OHCSF to support INSPIRE, WASH advocacy, capacity building and the institutionalisation of Gender-Responsive Budgeting across the Federal Civil Service.
Responding, Walson-Jack commended the diverse expertise of the FEMinWASH delegation, noting that professionals in WASH, water resources, environment, public health, town planning and education were critical to addressing development challenges.
She welcomed the proposed partnership, assuring that the OHCSF was ready to collaborate with FEMinWASH on civil service strengthening and WASH-related initiatives.
The meeting agreed to further engagements with Dr Garba, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), and Ms Funke Baruwa, Lead for Partnerships at the OHCSF, to advance the collaboration.
The visit ended with a photo session and exchange of gifts between both parties.
The Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, commended the community on the massive turn-out for sanitation.
He also appreciated the chairman and his team for their support to the ministry.
Rotimi-Akodu urged the community to continue to support the council and by extension, the government, by participating in the exercise and engaging in proper disposal of wastes.
“We have heard your appeal, and I assure you that Lagos government will do something about it.
“Although we have PSP operators in this axis, maybe they were assigned to other areas.
“However, I will ensure something is done and residents will observe the improvement.” the advisor said.
Also, the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LASMA), Mr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said that waste management was a collective exercise.
Gbadegbesin, therefore, appealed to the residents to always dispose of their wastes properly.
“You must bag your waste at home. Make sure you have a bin to keep the waste for few days, even if there is a delay by the PSP operator.
“Make sure you pay your PSP operator on time because there is no way they can provide that service if you are not paying them regularly.
The Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Go Green Nigeria Foundation, , has called for more stringent government efforts toward prohibition of illegal sand mining in Rivers, following erosion threats.
The founder of NGO Dr John Babington made the call on last Monday in Umuechem, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers, to commemorate the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems.
Babington, who sensitised the community on dangers associated with crude sand mining, donated some trees as part of efforts to promote tree planting and revitalisation of the altered mangrove ecosystem.
During an interactive session with the community, the environmental expert identified various concerns and commended residents for their willingness to work together to end the excavation.
He, however, dismissed the notion that illegal sand mining was due to poverty and unemployment, saying, ”the business is a capital intensive venture that could only be operated by a rich cartel.”
He said that though the business might have provided menial jobs for few youths, it had not in any manner addressed poverty.
Presently, the landscape is altered with an artificial river encroaching a major access road and threatening public safety,” he said.
Also speaking, a senior Chief in the community, Chief Gilbert Otamiri commended the NGO for the initiative and promised to collaborate with them.
Gilbert, however, urged the government to tackle unemployment which, he said, was a major promoter of the illegal excavation
Also speaking, The Community Development Chairman (CDC) Mr Agbam Mgbechi thanked the group for the sensitisation and donation of trees.
He called on the government and concerned induviduals to emulate the group by making efforts towards salvaging the area from further environmental damage.
-
News4 days agoSoldier, Police Officer Killed As Army Rescues Nine Abductees In Zamfara
-
News4 days agoFubara Reaffirms Commitment To Creating Conducive Environment For Business Growth …Commissions Paint Manufacturing Plant
-
Sports4 days agoFifa Scraps Controversial World Cup in Plan
-
Business4 days agoFG Grants Customs Duty, VAT Exemptions On Imported Electric, Gas Vehicles
-
News4 days agoPH NBA Election: Committee Uncovers Over 500 Padded Names On Voters’ Register
-
Business4 days agoVet Doctors Vow Support To Check Rabies Spread In Rivers
-
Sports4 days ago
INEC Seeks Media Partnership, Declares Readiness For Osun Guber Poll
-
Politics4 days ago
COUNCIL BOSS RECEIVES RETURNING STAKEHOLDERS TO RAINBOW COALITION IN RIVERS LGA