Environment

How Rivers Schools Use Water, Sanitation To Check Coronavirus

Published

5 years ago

December 21, 2020

The spread of the corona virus pandemic to Rivers State early this year can be said to have dealt a serious blow to institutions especially the school system in the state.
Environmentally, some pupils and staff of some primary schools in the state may not be in a hurry to forget both the environmental and other challenges that impacted on them as a result of the closure of schools, due to the pandemic.
Sources had it that in some schools, premises were overgrown with weeds, some premises were converted to public toilets by some natives, while some were completely taken over by reptiles and other dangerous animals.
State school Chokola Igbo Etche in Etche Local Government Area was not left out of the harrowing experiences.
Head teacher of the school, Mrs Ukoha Sandra, in an exclusive interview said, the school pitch was converted to a public toilet by some of the natives.
She said the situation had continued, despite the fact that the school was in session.
“They come here in the night and defecate all over the place and we have constantly reported the matter to the community, and no serious attention is being paid to it.”
Sandra said the school needs fencing to keep off those who strayed into the area at night to defecate in its premises. She also said State School Chokota had no sanitation facilities such as water and toilet, adding that what the school had was only pit latrine which is unhygienic.
According to her, the pit latrine is being cleaned regularly with hypo bleach and klin detergent.
“We don’t have water sometimes, I give money from my pocket to buy water”, she said.
She stressed the need for the government and public spirited individuals to come to the aid of the school by providing water and sanitation facilities.
Sandra said the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a terrible blow to the school as the population of the school has been reduced.
According to her, the school which has a population of 600 pupils now has less than 400 as some parents say they will wait till January 2021 before bringing their children to school.
Sandra said however the school was complying fully with COVID-19 protocols as no pupil was allowed to enter class rooms without putting on face mask and washing hands with soap and water.
She also said pupils and staff were happy to be back to class.
Also speaking, a basic five teacher, Mr Nwangha Godspower Anugo, said the school needed fencing to keep off intruders.
Anugbo said the school had no toilet and water, facilities.
“We need water seriously, the place also needs fencing”. On the conversion of the school premises to a public toilet, he said the matter had been reported to the Chokota Community Development Committee (CDC) and the youth body but noting was being done about it.
Also, Mrs Eucheria Etukudoh, a basic III teacher said, pupils used hand sanitisers in the school while in her class, there was spacing of pupils.
Some pupils who spoke were The Tide said they were happy to be back, but government should do something about the problem of water and sanitation.
Some of the pupils which include, Blessing Mfon Archibong of basic I, Favour Joseph Uwem of Basic II and others said they were happy to be back to school.
Also, for Centop International School, Umuchoko, the management has provided water and sanitation facilities in the school. The proprietor of the school, Mr Onwu Innocent Bamidele, however said the school was yet to recover from the shock of the lockdown but stressed that hand washing was strictly observed in the school.
According to him, the school has eight handwashing points, four within and four outside, while children are subjected to regular temperature check before entry into the premises.
Bamidele said the school had excellent water and sanitation facilities.
Also speaking, a parent, Burn Ray Unyene, said the pandemic dealt terrible lows to families.
“It is not easy to keep a child in the house”, adding that parents are happy that schools have resumed.
He also said parents were happy that school environment was neat and tidy.
Some of the school children, who spoke said they were happy to be back to school.

Environment

IWD: NGO promotes clean energy access for women in Kaduna

Published

4 hours ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

An NGO, Bridge That Gap Hope for Africa Initiative (BTG) has distributed energy-efficient cookstoves to women in Kaduna’s climate-impacted areas to promote clean energy use and climate resilience.

The intervention covered communities in Chikun, Zaria and Zango Kataf local government areas, forming part of activities marking the 2026 International Women’s Day.

The initiative was implemented under the Women Empowerment and Climate Resilient Initiative (WECRI) supported by the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE) programme.

Gloria Bulus, BTG Executive Director, in a statement on Friday, said the project seeks to address desertification, promote energy-efficient technologies and support inclusive environmental governance.

Bulus said women and vulnerable groups were prioritised because they were often the most affected by climate change while playing key roles in household energy management and community adaptation.

According to her, the clean cookstoves will reduce indoor air pollution, lower household energy costs and cut charcoal consumption by more than 50 per cent.

She added that the technology would also reduce tree felling and help curb deforestation in affected communities.

Bulus noted that many women and girls spend long hours sourcing firewood, exposing them to health and environmental risks.

She explained that the intervention would ease that burden while allowing women to devote more time to productive and income-generating activities.

The organisation said the initiative aligns with the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain,” which highlights the value of investing in women for stronger communities and environmental sustainability.

4th lead

NEMA sensitises Jos traders to market fire prevention measures

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), yesterday organised a one-day sensitisation workshop to promote fire safety measures and prevent frequent fire outbreaks in Jos markets.

In a speech, the Head of Operations, NEMA North Central, Mrs Bintu Wana, said the workshop was designed to sensitise traders to the practical steps to reduce market fires.

Wana explained that the workshop dwelt majorly on the common causes and prevention of market fires, basic first aid knowledge and the formation and training of Market Emergency Response Team.

According to her, market fire prevention and response call for a collective and coordinated effort to mitigate its effect.

She emphasised that early reporting of fire hazards and strict adherence to safety guidelines could significantly reduce the risk of dangerous and devastating market fires.

The Secretary, Plateau Traders Association, Chobe branch, Mr Raymond Ndukwu, thanked NEMA for organising the workshop for his members, describing it as timely and necessary.

Ndukwu promised that the association would work with NEMA and also help to cascade the knowledge acquired from the workshop to all its members.

He urged traders in the state to imbibe safety guidelines and also adopt better fire prevention practices.

The Tide source reports that the workshop was attended by representatives of the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency, Federal Fire Service and Red Cross Organisation, who educated traders on common causes of market fires and preventive measures.

The workshop is part of the agency’s ongoing effort to strengthen disaster preparedness and protect lives and property in major markets across Nigeria.

Environment

AEPB rates performance of waste evacuation contractors low

Published

4 hours ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has decried the low performance of the waste evacuation and cleaning contractors, engaged by the Federal Capital Territory Administration to keep Abuja clean.

The Director, Mrs Kate Ogbonna gave the assessment during an interactive session with the contractors in Abuja, yesterday.

Ogbonna said she was overwhelmed with unsavoury reports from the supervisors who monitor the daily performance of the cleaning and waste contractors.

According to her, routine checks by the Board have shown that the contractors are lagging in their task.

“The reports at my disposal from our supervisors, who monitor the performance of the contractors are not too good.”

She called on the contractors to brace up and ensure proper and efficient waste evacuation across the Federal Capital City.

She said that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, has been keeping his promise of paying the contractors on time, stressing that they, therefore, have no excuse not to deliver on the terms of agreement.

She acknowledged that there could be challenges, which were normal with every job, and advised the contractors to procure more equipment and engage more hands where necessary, to make their job easy and seamless.

The director reminded the contractors that they signed the contracts on grounds that they were capable, and assured them that the Board would assist where necessary.

Ogbonna explained that the meeting was to educate and guide the contractors on the full weight of their duties as waste managers and evacuators.

“We want them to know that there are standards and what we expect from them. We have set rules and agreements guiding their schedules.

“All we want is for the Federal Capital City to be clean,” she said.

Speaking on indiscriminate dumping of construction waste, the director said that the Board was working with the Department of Development Control to ensure that such waste were properly disposed of.

She appealed to residents and institutions doing businesses in the capital city to pay their waste and cleaning bills and procure the right size of waste bins commensurate with their residences and business offices.

She noted that waste removal and management was capital intensive, adding that residents need to do their part while the Board do its part.

“You cannot be owing and expect clinical waste removed.

“You cannot also have a bin meant for one household for a block of 10 flats and expect it to hold the waste you generate until the contractor’s trucks come around. It will definitely overflow and mess up the environment.

“To ensure Abuja capital city remains clean, devoid of pollution and epidemic free, all must do their part,” she said.

In his remarks, Mr Benjamin Enwerem, Director, Solid Waste Management, AEPB, said that some of the contractors have complained that most of the waste on the streets was being generated by night traders and funfare operators.

“These traders and funfare operators generate waste and litter the whole area, thereby, forming illegal waste dumps around residential and business areas.

“We have taken notice of this complaint and we will send our task force after them,” Enwerem said.

On the performances of the contractors, Enwerem said that although there were still lapses, the contractors were doing better by the day, noting that additional capable hands have been injected into the cleaning force.

On his part, Chairman, Association of Solid Waste Contractors, Mallam Ibrahim Babayo, acknowledged the unsatisfactory performance of the contractors and promised that they would improve.

Babayo also promised that the contractors would procure modern equipment and employ more hands to improve on routine evacuation of waste.

Environment

Lagos State Government Refuted Resumed Monthly Sanitation

Published

1 week 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.