Expert Advocates Punishment For Violators Of Environmental Rules

An occupational hygienist Ms Rose Iwueze, has advocated stiffer punishment for any company or individual who violated any environmental rules.

Iwueze said in an interview with newsmen in Abuja that such step would make companies to comply with rules and regulations governing the environment.

She said that most companies had not been meeting international environmental standards because the system was not strict enough to penalise them.

“We have laws and regulations guiding companies; those laws are not strictly adhered to, so the regulatory authorities should intensify their efforts to enforce the laws.

“The authorities should come up with stringent plans to implement rules and regulations as well as penalise whoever violates the law,’’ Iwueze said.

She, however, urged companies to carry out risk assessment of their companies to manage emergencies.

Iwueze also said that private companies should pay attention to the safety of their workers.

“All manners of occupations have risks but we have more risks in the private sector because most industries are owned by individuals or by private groups.

“Safety control should be given priority at the work place, the pathway of the environment of the office while the workers should be equipped with protective equipment.

“Companies that refuse to comply with safety control should be sanctioned or closed down,’’ she pointed out.

On hygiene, the consultant urged Nigerians to imbibe good sanitation and hygiene practices to reduce the incidences of sanitation-related diseases.

Iwueze advocated the re-introduction of monthly sanitation to ensure environmental cleanliness.

“We have to keep on sensitise Nigerians on the need to be clean and we need to have a systematic way of waste disposal.

“So, all hands must be on deck to have a comprehensive sanitation programme, ranging from environmental management, cleanliness in market workplaces and removal of waste,’’ she said.