Environment
Environmental Protection Board Commends FCT Initiative
The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has recommended the Innovative Community Led Total Sanitation Initiative (CLTS) to all the area councils in the territory to curtail the practice of open defecation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Deputy Director Environmental Health and Safety Unit of the board, Mrs Aishat Adebayo made the recommendation in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja.
Adebayo was reacting to complains of open defecation practices in most area councils particularly in Kuje, Gwagwalada, Kubwa, and Bwari.
The Tide learnt that residents of these areas had earlier accused the AEPB of marginalisation in sanitising and beautifying areas mostly occupied by FCT’s workforce.
They argued that the board focused its attention on sanitation only in the cosmopolitan centres, leaving the area councils unattended.
Adebayo said that although the area councils could handle their sanitation activities, the agency would liaise with them to curb open defecation through the CLTS initiative.
“There is one programme on community led total sanitation which I think will be of benefit to these communities.
“We will liaise with the department of environmental health and conservation in the area councils to make sure they do this quickly.
“The awareness is high communities come together to provide these facilities to ensure that the children, even the adults they have facilities because if you defecate openly, you are opening your community to a lot of diseases, cholera, and so on and so forth.
“Our sister department in the area councils can go round and ensure as a matter of urgency, the landlord provides even if it is what they call the VIP toilets so that tenants will have access to such facilities within their compounds.
“And we have some donor agencies coming in to support the administration in this regard, I think, by and large, I believe that we will get there”.
The Tide further learnt that the CLTS facilities communities to conduct their own appraisal and analysis of open defecation and take action to eliminate the practice.
The approach recognizes that merely providing toilets does not guarantee their use, or improved sanitation and hygiene.
The initiative differs from other sanitation approaches where hardware facilities are provided for communities by donor agencies, but rather focus on the behavioural change to ensure real and sustainable improvement.
CLTS, pioneered by Kamal Kar, a development consultant from India in 2000, was introduced in Nigeria by WaterAid, an international non-governmental organisation in 2004 and has since gained grounds in the country.
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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