Environment
Minister Inaugurates Habitat Committee On Housing, Urban Dev
The Supervising Minister
for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Mohammed Sada, has inaugurated the National Habitat Committee on housing and urban development.
The committee is charged with providing inputs for Nigeria’s position at the UN conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) taking place in New York in 2016.
Sada said the committee, with a broad representation from the public, private and non-profit sectors, would also convene a national urban forum that would engage relevant stakeholders and partners to reflect their views in the preparatory process.
“The committee will prepare the national habitat report and subsequently develop a national plan of action,” he said.
Sada said the national habitat report would assess the implementation of the HABITAT II agenda held in Istanbul in 1996.
He said that it would also access other relevant national and internationally agreed goals and targets.
“It will highlight new challenges, emerging trends and provide a prospective vision for sustainable human settlements and urban development as basis for the formulation of a new urban agenda,” he said.
The minister said the 59-member committee, to be chaired by the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, would also raise awareness on the Habitat III conference.
Sada said it would also proffer solution to the challenges facing the human settlement in the country.
He urged members of the committee to identify and share ideas on best practises from its diverse areas of representation.
Sada urged the members of the committee to look beyond HABITAT III and set actions for the realisation of the objective of providing affordable housing delivery and sustainable urban development in the country.
He said Nigeria’s association with UN-Habitat over the years had resulted in visible transformation of its human settlement across the country.
“This is demonstrated in the increased support to the preparation of city structure plans in youth empowerment, local economy development, water and sanitation and municipal finance management,” the minister said.
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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