Environment
Association Urges Women Traders To Preserve Environment
The Founder of Nigerian Quintessential Business Women Association, Mrs Shimite Katung,has urged women to strive to preserve the environment while engaged in their economic activities.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, Katung also urged women to find an alternative technology to firewood that they could use as cooking fuel.
She said that the call became necessary owing to the health hazards associated with using firewood as fuel for cooking.
“We want to deal with the felling of trees and using it as cooking fuel because the smoke that comes out of it is cancerous. It also affects the lungs; it’s also not good for the eyes in the long run even though people like that smoke of firewood.
She stated that the health disadvantages were huge for just to get your jollof rice smelling like smoke. The smokes smell into the rice, fine; but is not worth the health hazards and we would also want to find the alternatives that the women can use.
“We have found an alternative that cost 3,000 naira; you have heard about it the clean stove thing; somebody here does that; so we will just link up with him and find out what his network is.
If he does not have a network up to the local government level, we do. So, we see how the women can contribute N200 to a point where they can take the stove.
“While we continue to tell them the disadvantage of using the fire firewood both to the environment to their homes and all of that.“
Katung said that tree planting can not only enhance the environment but also create economic values
“We want to do tree planting. There is this tree that grows in two years; the seeds are from Brazil and they come out very strong.
“You can use it for furniture and all of that; so when it is planted today, in two years, it can be harvested; you can continue to replant. So they will happily plant it knowing the cost when is felled; so I want something that will make some economic sense.
“It is for profit, so everything we are going to do must make some economic sense to enable you tap from it.“
She said that since the theme of this year’s World Environment Day was about avoiding waste, parents, teachers, and children should be proactive about it.
“We have agreed that there is no such thing as waste if you can turn it to cash whether is newspapers you need to know how to sort it out. Sort out bottles differently, bottle covers differently plastic differently.
“There are existing companies that receive some of these things but also there are monies from different banks with a good business plan.
“They will be able to give you money but one part that the bank missed which the women need to understand is the up-takers.
According to Katung, an up-taker is the person who will buy what you have she said. It was good to find our up-taker before the time.
For broken bottles, she advised women to approach Pepsi, Coca Cola etc and find out.
“Find out if they are up-takers for broken bottles.
“ So we need to find up-takers take on what you want to do nylon factories find your up-taker most banks will take you on that.
“For the children I think from early they need to teach them value of keeping their environment clean. They need to be thought sorting out dirt the right way and knowing that some of these can be used for manure it can be reused again.
“Every time you use a paper again you save a tree so some of these has to be inculcated. So for me I am not really into the children but the teachers and the parents because whatever you dish is what the children absorb as their way of life.
“For the teachers I think they should take some time to know what is happening; they should take time to find out what people are doing.
“You cannot sit down and complain about something they have just solved yesterday because you did not make an effort to find out what it is.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a seven-day flood advisory, warning of a medium flood risk in 17 states between July 21 and July 27.
The agency said the alert followed rising water levels at key river monitoring stations, increasing the likelihood of localised flooding along river channels and floodplains.
NIHSA Director-General, Umar Mohammed, disclosed this in National Flood Advisory (Alert No. NFA-2026-200) issued on Tuesday.
He said the affected states are Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
According to Mohammed, river levels at Saminara on the Karam River, Waya Dam Site on the Waya River and Amber on the Amber River had exceeded watch and warning thresholds.
He said 16 gauging stations nationwide were recording elevated river stages, placing nearby communities at risk of localised flooding.
Mohammed urged state governments, local authorities and residents of flood-prone communities to take precautionary measures immediately.
NIHSA said Bauchi had the highest exposure, with 1,841 communities, 145 schools, 101 health facilities and eight markets identified as vulnerable.
The agency also identified vulnerable communities and public facilities in Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Plateau and Benue states.
Mohammed urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), local governments and community leaders to activate emergency response plans.
He recommended relocating residents, livestock and valuables from floodplains to safer locations
He also advised emergency agencies to pre-position food, medical supplies and water treatment materials in areas likely to be affected.
“The NIHSA boss called for community mobilisation through early warning volunteers and local communication channels to ensure timely dissemination of flood alerts.
He cautioned residents against walking, driving or riding through flooded roads, bridges and fast-flowing waterway.
A cleaner environment begins with collective responsibility. That commitment was evident across Umuahia on Saturday as thousands of residents turned out to participate in the July monthly environmental sanitation exercise, with officials describing the compliance level as one of the most encouraging in recent months.
The impressive turnout has renewed hope that Abia’s campaign for a cleaner and healthier environment is steadily becoming a culture rather than a routine exercise.
The July monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Umuahia recorded about 80% compliance.
The Abia State Ministry of Environment described the turnout as a strong indication that residents are embracing Governor Alex Otti’s vision for a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable environment, while calling for the establishment of Neighbourhood Environmental Watch groups to sustain the momentum.
The Abia State Government has commended residents of Umuahia for their impressive participation in the July monthly environmental sanitation exercise, describing the turnout as a strong indication that citizens are embracing the state’s campaign for a cleaner and healthier environment.
Speaking after monitoring the exercise across major parts of the Umuahia metropolis, the Permanent Secretary, Abia State Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ikechukwu Oriuwa, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance and urged residents to sustain the momentum.
According to him, the success recorded during the exercise reflects growing public support for the environmental agenda of the Labour Party-led administration.
“I think, so far, so good. At this point, what we need to do is sustain the momentum. We should move forward with establishing a Neighbourhood Environmental Watch so that residents can monitor compliance and ensure the initiative is sustained,” he said.
Mr. Oriuwa further applauded both residents and the organisers for the success of the exercise.
“Well, I must say I am very impressed. I appreciate the organisers for putting this programme together. It has been highly impressive, and I believe participants have learnt a great deal. From what I have observed so far, everything has been well organised, and I think they are doing an excellent job. I encourage them to keep up the good work because programmes like this are beneficial to everyone,” he added.
The Permanent Secretary stressed that environmental sanitation should become a daily culture rather than an activity observed only on designated sanitation days.
Drawing from an Igbo proverb, he explained why communities must collectively protect their environment.
“An Igbo proverb says that a goat owned by the public often goes hungry. That is why establishing a Neighbourhood Environmental Watch is important. It will encourage residents to take collective responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean and ensuring that sanitation efforts are sustained.”
He also urged government agencies to strengthen enforcement by deploying environmental health officers to carry out routine inspections and ensure compliance with sanitation laws.
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