As Nigeria joined, the rest
of the world last week to mark the 2014 World Environment Day (WED), stakeholders have called for pragmatic efforts to address ecological challenges in the country.
They said this at an event organised by the Ministry of Environment in Abuja last Thursday, to celebrate the day.
The Chairman, Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), Abuja branch, Mr Akinrele Olusegun, called for a collective approach in proffering solutions to the problems plaguing the country.
“There is the need for concerted efforts to address the ecological, industrial and natural problems.
“In other words, the environmental problems we have are caused by individuals, groups and industrial activities.’’
He urged the private sector and governments at all levels to synergise and ensure the establishment of recycling plants to address the challenges posed by non-biodegradable materials.
Olusegun said that government policies must address the influx of used electronic gadgets and cars, adding that they constitute environmental nuisance to the country.
Similarly, the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Ethics and Values, Dr Sarah Jubril, called for attitudinal change among Nigerian, if the environment must be protected.
Jubril urged the Ministry of Environment to pay more attention to the issues of behavioural change.
The Corps Commandant-General, Environmental Ethics and Safety Corps (ESCORP),  an NGO, Emenike Eme, said that collective action was urgently needed to curb rising sea level in the world.
Eme added that there was also the need for deliberate public awareness creation on the causes the environmental challenges and their remedies.
“On our part, ESCORP will continue to make available to agencies under the ministry our services, to bridge the obvious gaps between Nigeria’s many policies and their impact on the society,’’ he added.
In her address, the Chief Executive Officer, Mary Elika Foundation, an NGO, Mrs Mary Manzo, urged youths to be agents of change, in order to achieve sustainable environment in the country.
Manzo tasked youths to use the occasion of the WED to imbibe the culture of green living among them and protect the environment for a healthy living.
She said that the foundation was committed to strengthening its awareness programmes to sensitise youths on the need for them to intensify their environmental consciousness.
“And of course for them to also take care of their immediate environment and know the global challenge that the world is facing as regards climate change,’’ Manzo added.
She said that so far, the foundation had recorded huge successes from the response of school children in terms of positive change in their attitude towards clean environment.
“They have shown a lot of changes in their attitude towards their environment especially their immediate school environment,’’ she said.
Our correspondent reports that the Minister of Environment, Mrs Laurentia Mallam, planted a tree in Abuja as part of activities to mark the WED celebrations.
Meanwhile in Lagos, the Federal Controller of Environment, Mrs Olutoyin Agbenla, called for the protection of  islands in the face of growing risk and vulnerabilities arising particularly from climate change.
Agbenla made the call in an address of  welcome at the 2014 World Environment Day (WED) celebration.
The theme of the celebration is “Small Islands Developing States’’, with the slogan “Raise your Voice Not the Sea Level’’.
She said that the WED was the United Nations principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and positive action on the environment.
“ The purpose of the celebration is to deepen the public awareness on the need to preserve and enhance the environment.
“The theme is meant to inspire all of us to play our part to raise our voices and save the small island developing states from the impact of climate change.
“Also to save them from devastating storms and the threat of sea level rise due to their small size and susceptibility to natural hazards.’’
Agbenla observed that in Nigeria, islands such as Banana Island, Bonny Island, Brass Island, Victoria Island and other coastal zones were also vulnerable to climate change.
According to her, the islands are all experiencing the same threat of  sea level rise and beach erosion.