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Environment

Group Calls For Special Environmental Court

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5 years ago

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Cleanup Nigeria campaign group has called for a special court to handle all environmental related cases in the country.
This was part of a resolution at the end of a stakeholders meeting in Port Harcourt.
The meeting was facilitated by the centre for creative development strategies; a Niger Delta-based non-governmental organisation.
The group said government should not only revisit all extant environmental laws, but also strenghtend them with a view to ensuring that they are effectively enforced.
They also stressed the need for the government to help civil societies step up campaigns with a view to ensuring environmental cleanliness across the country.
The forum also stressed the need for people to be taught the art of waste conversion to wealth.
Team leader, Cleanup Nigeria Rivers State, Mr Kingdom Nwanyanwu, blamed the indiscriminate disposal of waste on lack of awareness, adding that the campaign was to ensure that people imbibe the culture of cleanliness.
“The campaign is to re-engineer the mindset of people to imbibe the culture of cleanliness.
“Government should help the group to reach out to many people by amplifying our voice through the radio, newspaper and other media of communication.
He said the slogan for the campaign, which was “cleaner cities for healthier citizens”, was chosen to drive home the point of the relationship between diseases and dirty environment.
“Dirty environment is responsible for diseases but most city dwellers are not aware of it. That is why the cleanup Nigeria campaign was launched”.
According to him, the group is training thousands of volunteers to be environmental ambassadors.
In his word, “the objectives of the Cleanup Nigeria Campaign (CNC) project are to stop the habit of indiscriminately littering the environment, to change the behaviour of Nigerians permanently by spotlighting the problem of littering and offering creative solution on waste problem in Nigeria aimed”.
He said the team also aims to build the campaign into a national civic movement and groups to make the country waste free.
“It is our wish to organise and implement a national cleanup campaign that will involve community members, schools and government institutions to inspire and educate Nigerians on the importance of a clean environment for human health and strong economy.
Meanwhile, some waste management experts have renewed calls on Nigerians, particularly youths, to see plastic wastes as a means of wealth creation, as they can easily be sourced within their environment.
The experts made the call, in separate interviews in newsmen, in Lagos.
They added that sustainable plastic waste management of non-degradable wastes will not only create wealth and employment, but also make the environment healthier by combating pollution.
The experts included, Mr Alexander Akhigbe, Chief Executive Officer, African Clean-Up Initiative, and Mr Taiwo Adewole, Executive Director, Recycle Points.
Adewole said apart from the lack of awareness of the benefits of recycling plastic wastes, another major challenge was the logistics for collections.
“Many people get discouraged after sorting their wastes and have to go far, spend money on transportation to drop off their recyclables,” he said.
Adewole said, his organisation came up with the Drop Off Recycle Initiative (DORI) bin, where people can drop off their recyclables within their communities.
“We pick five women in each community, empower and give them the special bin where people within the community can easily drop off their recyclables and get incentives.
“We collect PET bottles, water sachets, nylons, cans, glass, aluminum and cartons. We also collect from scavengers, who we call aggregators. They collect in large numbers because they go out every day with their carts and pick whatever they see.
“Once they gather their recyclables and reach out to us, we give them the recycle bin and collect their recyclables. For 1,000 kg of plastics they get N20,000 Naira,” he said.
To Akhigbe, raising awareness of the dangers and benefits of recycling plastic wastes will impact positively on the environment.
Akhigbe, whose organisation focuses on environmental sustainability, said the organisation had carried out different projects in low-income communities.
He said the organisation’s ‘Recycles Pay Educational Project’ had helped some parents pay their children’s school fees.
“We collect water sachets, PET bottles, from parents in exchange for the fees. We have a working relationship with the schools and the fees are paid directly to the schools.
“We also have packages like ‘Bottles for Pads’ and ‘Bottles for Diapers’ initiative.

 

By: John Bibor

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Environment

AEPB Decried Low Performance Of Waste Evacuator In Abuja

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6 days ago

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March 23, 2026

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The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has decried the low performance of the waste evacuation and cleaning contractors, engaged by the Federal Capital Territory Administration to keep Abuja clean.
The Director, Mrs Kate Ogbonna gave the assessment during an interactive session with the contractors in Abuja on Friday.
Ogbonna said she was overwhelmed with unsavoury reports from the supervisors who monitor the daily performance of the cleaning and waste contractors.
“The reports at my disposal from our supervisors, who monitor the performance of the contractors are not too good.”
She called on the contractors to brace up and ensure proper and efficient waste evacuation across the Federal Capital City.
She said that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, has been keeping his promise of paying the contractors on time, stressing that they, therefore, have no excuse not to deliver on the terms of agreement.
She acknowledged that there could be challenges, which were normal with every job, and advised the contractors to procure more equipment and engage more hands where necessary, to make their job easy and seamless.
The director reminded the contractors that they signed the contracts on grounds that they were capable, and assured them that the Board would assist where necessary.
Ogbonna explained that the meeting was to educate and guide the contractors on the full weight of their duties as waste managers and evacuators.
“We want them to know that there are standards and what we expect from them. We have set rules and agreements guiding their schedules.
“All we want is for the Federal Capital City to be clean,” she said.
She appealed to residents and institutions doing businesses in the capital city to pay their waste and cleaning bills and procure the right size of waste bins commensurate with their residences and business offices.
She noted that waste removal and management was capital intensive, adding that residents need to do their part while the Board do its part.
“You cannot be owing and expect clinical waste removed.
“You cannot also have a bin meant for one household for a block of 10 flats and expect it to hold the waste you generate until the contractor’s trucks come around. It will definitely overflow and mess up the environment.
“To ensure Abuja capital city remains clean, devoid of pollution and epidemic free, all must do their part,” she said.
In his remarks, Mr Benjamin Enwerem, Director, Solid Waste Management, AEPB, said that some of the contractors have complained that most of the waste on the streets was being generated by night traders and funfare operators.
“These traders and funfare operators generate waste and litter the whole area, thereby, forming illegal waste dumps around residential and business areas.
“We have taken notice of this complaint and we will send our task force after them,” Enwerem said.
On the performances of the contractors, Enwerem said that although there were still lapses, the contractors were doing better by the day, noting that additional capable hands have been injected into the cleaning force.
On his part, Chairman, Association of Solid Waste Contractors, Mallam Ibrahim Babayo, acknowledged the unsatisfactory performance of the contractors and promised that they would improve.
Babayo also promised that the contractors would procure modern equipment and employ more hands to improve on routine evacuation of waste.
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Environment

Buildings Destroyed, 40 Injured In Lagos and C’Rivers 

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6 days ago

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March 23, 2026

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No fewer than 40 people sustained injuries, while one person was confirmed dead, in separate tanker-related explosions in Lagos and Cross River states.
In Lagos, the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday along the Lekki–Epe Expressway, around Ologuro Bus Stop, opposite a filling station in the Sangotedo area.
According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, a tipper truck rammed into a gas tanker from behind, sparking a massive fire outbreak.
The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, in a statement, said one person died in the incident, while two others sustained injuries.
“Upon arrival at the scene, it was discovered that a tipper truck rammed into a gas tanker, resulting in a fire outbreak. The driver of the tipper truck died as a result of the impact, while two adult females sustained minor injuries,” he said.
Oke-Osanyintolu attributed the crash to overspeeding and reckless driving, adding that the fire engulfed several roadside shops, causing extensive damage.
Tide source gathered that emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and ambulance officials, were able to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings.
Similarly, the Federal Road Safety Corps, in a statement by the Sector Public Education Officer, Elizabeth Jayeola, confirmed the incident, saying the crash involved a Sinotruck tipper and a Mack trailer.
“A total of four male adults were involved. One person died, one was injured, while two were unhurt. The crash was caused by speed violation, which led to loss of control and collision,” she said.
Jayeola added that the impact triggered a fire that left the tipper driver burnt beyond recognition, while his assistant sustained injuries.
According to her, three warehouses and about 10 roadside shops, including a gym and a generator house, were affected before firefighters brought the situation under control.
Several vehicles, including buses and cars parked within the affected area, were also damaged.
In a separate incident in Calabar, Cross River State, no fewer than 38 persons sustained varying degrees of burns following a gas explosion at a filling station.
The explosion reportedly occurred during the transfer of gas from a storage tank to a service tank when a hose detached, causing gas to leak into the surrounding area.
An eyewitness in a video, Ekanem Essien, described the moment as chaotic, likening the explosion to a bomb blast.
“The only thing we heard was a loud explosion. Everywhere was in confusion. I had to rush my baby out and grab my documents. We could not even reach the fire service in time,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Sunday Eitokpah, in a statement, said the leakage quickly escalated into a fire, leaving residents with little time to escape.
“Several residents sustained injuries, primarily burns, and those with serious cases have been taken to the Teaching Hospital for treatment,” he said.
Despite the scale of destruction in Calabar, the PPRO confirmed that no death was recorded, while victims were receiving treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
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Environment

Why Buildings Keep Collapsing In Nigeria…. NIOB

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2 weeks ago

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March 16, 2026

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The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has attributed the recurring building collapse cases across the country to weak construction laws and failure to hold offenders accountable.
President of the institute, Daniel Kolade, made this known in Abuja at the 2026 Builders Day celebration, themed, “Advocacy and Policy Influence: Towards Sustainable Reforms for a Resilient Built Environment”
He expressed worry that, in spite of concerns over building safety, a key regulatory framework meant to strengthen enforcement within the built environment has remained pending before the National Assembly since 2006.
According to him, the delay has created a situation where those responsible for structural failures often escape punishment.
“Because the enforcement arm of the law is still lying with the National Assembly and has not been passed into law since 2006, the room remains for people to go scot-free when these incidents happen,” Kolade said.
According to Kolade, the lack of consequences encourages negligence on construction sites, as many operators believe little or nothing will happen, even if they violate building regulations.
Kolade cited previous building collapse incidents where, years after the tragedies, no individual had been prosecuted or sanctioned.
“As long as people continue to go free when these things happen, you should expect that it may not stop,” he said.
The NIOB president also said that the growing number of unqualified individuals working on construction sites worsened the problem.
He said it has become common for people without the required training or professional certification to assume technical roles in building projects.
“On most construction sites today, everybody claims to be an engineer, even labourers.
“Without the requisite knowledge and understanding, people just assume roles they are not qualified for,” he said.
Kolade noted that professional builders are regulated by the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), which has the authority to register practitioners and discipline erring members.
He explained that builders found guilty of professional misconduct should face sanctions, including the withdrawal of their practicing licences.
However, he said the absence of a strong enforcement mechanism outside professional bodies makes it difficult to prosecute developers or project promoters who violate construction standards.
“In Nigeria, only one major case in Lagos saw the building promoter go down with the incident.
“In many other cases across the country, those responsible have walked free,” he said.
Kolade stressed that the built environment consists of several specialised professionals, each with defined responsibilities, including builders, architects and engineers.
He said the NIOB remained committed to promoting professionalism, ethical standards and quality assurance within the building industry.
March 13 is observed annually as Builders’ Day to create public awareness about the roles of professional builders and the importance of engaging qualified professionals in construction projects.
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