Environment
Environmentalist Tasks Osinbajo On Gas Flaring
An environmentalist in the Niger Delta, Mr. Iniwo Wills has called on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to use his executive order to declare December 31 2018 as deadline for end to gas flaring in the region.
Mr. Wills said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt.
He said that an executive order was required to put an end to constant shifting of gas flaring deadlines since 1970.
The environmentalist also said that the Acting President could as well pronounce December 31, 2018 the final irreversible deadline for gas flaring if there are genuine and compelling factors that could make the earlier date unrealisable.
According to him, there is an urgent need for a compressive action to protect the environment and communities in the Niger Delta region.
Mr. Wills maintained that such action should be devoid of politics.
He stressed the need for governments at all levels to take a holistic action and approach to end pollution as well as penalise individuals and corporate executives, stressing that individuals and regulatory executives who have allowed the continual oil pollution to be accepted as normal flaring in Nigeria should be sanctioned.
Wills urged Osinbajo to direct the Ministries of Environment Petroleum Resources, Health and Niger Delta Affairs to immediately initiate the conduct of an Independent holistic study.
“The study should be conducted by respectable consortium of experts and technical organizations including UNDP and the WHO to ascertain the cumulative environmental, health and socio economic impact of oil and gas exploration on host and transit communities.
He urged governors of the affected Niger Delta states to stop paying lip-service to protection of the environment as had been in the past.
Wills also advised the Governors to begin to make the protection of communities and coastal environment their constitutional duty to the people of the region.
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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