Environment

NEMA Urges More Stakeholders’ Action For Disaster Management

Published

14 years ago

August 24, 2012

The Director-General of the National Emergency Management
Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Sidi, on Thursday in Abuja called for more
efforts by stakeholders to check large-scale disasters in the country.

Sani-Sidi made the call at an event organised by NEMA to
commemorate the 2012 UN World Humanitarian Day.

The director-general stressed the need for strategies to
check large scale disasters such as floods, epidemics, drought, desertification
and the resultant bio-diversity loss.

He commended the stakeholders in disaster management for
their continued collaboration and support for all NEMA’s activities.

“I wish to call upon you to use your talents and experiences
gained over the years to develop tools for effective humanitarian service
delivery that does not compromise the safety and wellbeing of such service
providers,’’ he said.

In a goodwill message, the Director-General of the Nigerian
Metrological Agency, Dr Anthony Anuforom, warned that the latest forecast by the
agency indicated that more people would be vulnerable to the impending flood.

The DG, who said that the agency had provided NEMA with the
necessary information on the vulnerable areas, commended efforts being made by
NEMA to mitigate the impact of the likely disaster.

“NIMET believes that efforts to militate against the
impending flooding should be made by governments of affected areas by taking
precautions to avoid disasters,’’ he said.

He urged stakeholders in disaster management to put in place
measures to address the humanitarian situations caused by climate change.

He also advised the citizenry to be part of efforts to make
the country safe.

The Minister of Environment, Mrs Hadiza Mailafia, in her
goodwill message, said that the 2012 World Humanitarian Day’s theme of
“Greening the Blues’’ was apt as it brought to focus the current challenges
caused by effects of climate change.

The minister, who was represented by an Assistant Director
in the ministry, Mr Theodore Nwaoke, said that the ministry had embarked on
programmes to adapt to climate change and reduce disasters in the country.

In a message, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP
representative in Nigeria, Mr Daouda Toure, urged humanitarian communities in
the country to show solidarity with people in the Sahel region.

He said people in the Sahel region were currently
experiencing food insecurity, malnutrition and diseases that required urgent
attention.

The UN General Assembly in its resolution in December 2008
set aside Aug. 19 of every year to commemorate the World Humanitarian Day.

Environment

Lagos State Government Refuted Resumed Monthly Sanitation

Published

9 hours 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.

Environment

LAWMA Director Says Sweeping Reforms Have Improved Waste Collection

Published

9 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, says sweeping reforms and infrastructure upgrades have significantly improved waste collection efficiency across the state.

Gbadegesin disclosed this to newdmen last week in Lagos state.

He said LAWMA expanded night cleaning operations and increased street sweeping coverage to 1,000 routes statewide.

He disclosed that 16,000 street sweepers were currently engaged across Lagos, supported by improved logistics and operational systems.

He said LAWMA acquired new equipment three years ago to complement Private Sector Participants (PSP) compactors and rehabilitated old trucks to strengthen fleet capacity.

He added that additional compactor trucks were expected in the coming months.

“Heavy-duty equipment is now deployed to clear legacy illegal dumpsites across communities,” he said.

Gbadegesin said LAWMA strengthened human capacity by expanding its advocacy department and deepening collaboration with Community Development Associations (CDAs) and local councils.

He revealed that each local government now operates a waste management task force, supported by LAWMA integration desks.

On waste-to-wealth initiatives, he disclosed that the Lagos State House of Assembly had ratified a concession agreement with ZoomLion to construct transfer loading stations and material recovery facilities.

The facilities, he said, would enable closure of the Olusosun and Solous landfills and process 4,000 tonnes of waste daily.

He said organic waste, which constitutes about 50 per cent of Lagos waste, would be converted into compost, while plastics would be recycled into waste bins.

Gbadegesin also disclosed plans for a 1,500-tonnes-per-day waste-to-energy plant in partnership with a Dutch firm, Harvest Waste.

He said the project was expected to generate 60 megawatts of electricity to support emerging industrial zones.

He further highlighted a pilot biogas plant at the Epe Food Market, which processes 500kg of organic waste daily to generate electricity for market operations.

He called for stronger media collaboration to enhance public awareness and behavioral change.

“Waste management is not just about equipment; it is about human behaviour, enforcement and strong regulatory systems,” he said.

He urged residents to utilise LAWMA’s toll-free lines and digital platforms to report service gaps instead of resorting to illegal dumping.

Environment

Ministry Of Environment To Validate A Landmark Policy To Advance Nigeria’s Economy

Published

9 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Ministry of Environment last Thursday convened key stakeholders in Abuja to validate a landmark policy brief aimed at tackling marine litter to advance Nigeria’s transition to a circular economy.

Mrs Falmata Bukar-Kolo, the Deputy Director, Solid Waste Management and Technology Division in the ministry, warned that plastic pollution poses serious risks to aquatic ecosystems and public health.

She stated that microplastics have already entered the food chain through fish consumption, while clogged waterways, soil contamination, and greenhouse gas emissions from burning plastics are worsening the environmental crisis.

Bukar-Kolo said that plastics, though widely used, are non-biodegradable and persist in the environment for years.

She called for improved waste management systems, stronger enforcement of environmental regulations, and behavioural change amongst citizens and businesses.

Mr Clem Ugorji, Regional Coordinator of PROTEGO, emphasised on the urgency of action, saying Nigeria’s marine litter crisis carries environmental, economic, and reputational costs.

He expressed optimism that the 2025 to 2040 roadmap endorsed at the workshop would shift the country from prolonged dialogue to concrete implementation.

The event was organised in collaboration with PROTEGO (Prevention of Marine Litter in the Gulf of Guinea).

Discussions centred on a draft policy input paper titled “Policies, Institutional Set-up and Financing of Marine Litter Prevention in Nigeria,”.

These seeks to present insightful analysis and a set of recommendations to address the structural and financing gaps that have long hindered effective waste management, particularly plastic leakage from inland communities and waterways into the Atlantic Ocean.

The PROTEGO initiative is supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection and led by adelphi, with implementation in Nigeria by WASTE Africa and the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC).

The policy brief is a key delivery for one of the programme’s four impact areas – building capacities of public stakeholders.