City Crime
Echoes Of World Environment Day
The continuous destruction of the ecosystem and depletion of the Ozone layers formed the major topics for discussions at the just concluded World Environment Day (WED) celebration.
Incidentally, the event which held on the 5th of June had as its theme: “Ecosystem Restoration” The event is marked 5th of June every year. The first World Environment Day celebration took place in 1974 in Spokane, United States of America.
The theme for that celebration was: “Only One Earth,”
World Environment Day has always revolved round a theme. For instance, in 2010: the theme was Many Species One Planet, One Future, celebrating the diversity of life on earth. In 2011, the theme was “Forest Nature at Your Service.” 2012: The Green Economy, 2013 celebration theme was “Think eat Save”.
Similarly for 2014, the theme was: International Year of Small Islands developing states with the slogan: “Raise Your Voice not the Sea Level” for 2015, it was “Seven Billion Dreams One Planet, Consume With Care” 2016, it was Go Wild for Life.
Similarly 2017 celebration featured, “Connecting Nature to people” 2018 “Beat Plastic Pollution” while in 2019 it was, “Beat Air pollution” for this year, the theme was, “Ecosystem Restoration”.
Although the celebration had come and gone, its echoes still linger across the world.
Here in Rivers State, the Rivers State Government and several other organisations participated in the celebration.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Dr Nduye C.T. Briggs, described the World Environment Day as a powerful platform to accelerate, amplify and encourage people, communities and governments around the world to take action on critical environment challenges facing the planet.
According to Briggs, who addressed the press during the celebration, the “main objectives of WED therefore, are to identify current environmental issues, protect and preserve our ecosystem and look at various environmental issues growing day by day, spread awareness on the preservation and protection of the environment. “The theme for this year’s (2021) WED celebration means assisting in the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded destroyed, as well as conserving the ecosystems that are still intact”.
The permanent secretary listed some practical steps that should be taken to restore the ecosystem.
According to him, “We can grow tress, green tree cities, rebuild our gardens, change our diet and clean up rivers and coasts”
He pointed out that, “we are the generation that can make peace with nature,”
According to him, Nature is in crisis, threatened by biodiversity and ecosystem loses, global warming and toxic pollution.”
Dr Briggs, urged the people of Rivers State to protect and preserve the environment in order to save and restore the ecosystem.
“Let us reflect on our activities and their impacts on the environment and engage in practices that ensures, sustainability of the environment”
He pleaded with those involved in illegal refining of crude oil and bunkering to stop it.
“I want to appeal to all and sundry to stop illegal refining of crude oil and bunkering activities, burning of refuses, especially plastics and other hazardous wastes and indiscriminate felling of trees and bush burning.
“These activities, not only affect the air quality and the ozone layer, but also pollute both surface and ground waters”
He said, the Rivers State Government on its part will continue to protect the environment as well as ensure that policies on the ecosystem restoration are complied with, while also providing social amenities and protecting lives and property.
Also speaking on the theme in an interview with The Tide, the Rivers State President of the Waste Management Society of Nigeria (WAMASON), Mr Abu Benson said, “restoring the ecosystem means protecting their biodiversity and helping them to deliver benefits for the people”.
“It means using ecosystem on land and in the oceans in ways that strengthen their natural resources and processes”.
Abu listed ways in which the ecosystem can be restored to include, supporting the national policy on solid waste management and the plastic waste management initiative to take effect at local, state and national levels.
Pledge support for restoration or conservation initiatives, including cleaning up a lake beach, park or other natural area as well as greening our homes, business, school or public spaces as professional members with indigenous trees or plants.
The WAMASON state chairman also advocated for halting purchases of products and services that are not certified as sustainable as well as imbibing the culture and practices of sustainable waste management.
Similarly, in a press release to mark the day, the Centre for Environment Human Rights Development (CEHRD) condemned gas flaring penalties.
“The overt relaxed penalty for gas flaring that makes economic sense for oil companies to flare gas and pay the penalty rather than adopt trending technology in gas reuse does not help and potentially limits the opportunities for achieving the Nigeria’s nationally determined contribution (NDC).
According to CEHRD, strengthening existing policies and legislations is critical to providing a holistic solution to protecting, preserving and restoring the environment which are key components of ecosystem restoration”.
The centre also called on the citizenry and government at all levels to take practical steps to prevent further loss of biodiversity and restore degraded ecosystems.
“Individuals, communities and the multinational companies must also put an end to practice, that compromised conservation and restoration of biodiversity.
“These include, artisanal refining of crude oil, over exploration of mangroves for firewood, fishing with dynamite and gas flaring.
“We demand that the government of Nigeria should as a matter of urgency embark on a robust sensitisation on citizen’s environmental stewardship and coordinate participatory and sustainable actions to restoring degraded mangroves and rainforests.”
It also urged for a national policy on tree planting in every home, in schools, colleges and public parks, while existing legislations including the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Act and the Environmental Impact Assessment Act be strengthened. The theme is laudable but government must go beyond mere policy-making, by taking action.
In the Niger Delta for instance, action should be lauder than word.
All in all, the celebration has once again re-awakened the consciousness of the society to take action to protect our ecosystem.
By: John Bibor/Miracle Peters
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned against the practice of scooping fuel from accidented tankers, noting it has led to the loss of many lives and property.
The agency’s Head of Operations in Ibadan, Mr Kadiri Olanrewaju, cautioned during a sensitisation programme on tanker fire accidents, held on Wednesday at Akinyele Local Government Area (LGA) of Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was held in collaboration with the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (OYSEMA) in Akinyele LGA and other stakeholders.
Olanrewaju said Akinyele LGA was selected for the awareness campaign because of its strategic location as a trailer route from the northern to the southern part of the country.
“These agencies felt that it was necessary to bring this important message to critical stakeholders in communities under the Akinyele LGA, where we have major trailer parks.
“The campaign kick-started in Ogun; we will soon move to Osun.
“The focus is to drive strong sensitisation against the scooping of fuel at the grassroots level, especially for local governments along the trailer routes to reduce needless loss of lives and property,” he said.
He charged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant agencies to enforce the laws against underage driving and ensure the proper certification and retraining of drivers.
The Administrative Secretary of OYSEMA, Mrs Ojuolape Busari, said that Community Development Associations (CDAs) were involved in the campaign to reach a larger number of people.
Busari noted that people still scoop fuel from accidented tankers because there had not been any serious punishment attached to the offence.
She, therefore, called for stiff penalties for anyone caught perpetrating the act.
“Apart from the risk of fire outbreak that may occur during the practice, it is stealing, which is a serious offence,” she said.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of Akinyele LGA, Hon. Akinwole Akinyele, suggested that fuel transportation should be handled through the rail system, while leaving tankers for intra-city fuel transportation.
The chairman called for an urgent review of laws and policies related to fire services and road safety to meet the urgent and modern demands.
He said that the implementation of stricter fuel transportation regulations, vehicle maintenance, drivers’ training and retraining, and safer fuel handling practices remained crucial to the fuel distribution system in Nigeria.
“The attendant costs of tanker fire accidents have been huge, both in terms of the high number of fatalities and the loss or destruction of property, environmental damage, and public infrastructure,” he said.
NAN reports that the event featured technical sessions, lectures, and presentations from the FRSC, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Fire Service, traditional and market leaders, among others.
…To Confer National Honours On Select Lawmakers
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will deliver a presidential address before a joint session of the National Assembly today as part of events marking Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration.
The event is scheduled to be held in the House of Representatives chamber of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
This was confirmed in a statement released on Sunday by the spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Rotimi.
The statement referenced an internal memorandum issued by the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Danzaria, officially notifying lawmakers of the proceedings.
According to the memorandum, the special joint sitting will begin at 11:00 a.m. with preliminary activities before the arrival of President Tinubu, who is expected at noon.
Democracy Day is observed annually on June 12 in remembrance of the 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s most credible poll since independence.
The election was won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola but was annulled by the military government led by General Ibrahim Babangida (retd).
The theme for the 2025 celebration is “26 Years of Democracy: Renewing Our Commitment to National Development.”
President Tinubu is attending the event as the Special Guest of Honour and is expected to use the platform to reflect on the state of Nigeria’s democracy and present his administration’s vision for the future.
The session will also feature goodwill messages from former presiding officers of the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, the President will confer national honours on select legislators in what organisers describe as part of efforts to recognise contributions to democratic governance.
The National Assembly views the event as an important marker of Nigeria’s political evolution.“This joint sitting represents a significant moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey,” the statement read.
“It underscores the pivotal role of the National Assembly in safeguarding democratic values, fostering accountability, and advancing national development over the past 26 years of uninterrupted civil rule.”
Lawmakers also used the occasion to urge Nigerians to reflect on the country’s democratic progress and to renew their commitment to national unity and inclusive governance.
“The House of Representatives calls on all Nigerians to embrace the spirit of Democracy Day as a time for reflection, renewed patriotism, and commitment to building a more inclusive, prosperous, and united nation,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has declared today as a public holiday, to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day celebration held every June 12.
June 12 was officially designated as Nigeria’s Democracy Day in 2018, to honour the annulled 1993 presidential election, widely considered the freest and fairest in the nation’s history and won by Chief MKO Abiola.
In a statement announcing the holiday, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated citizens on the occasion of 26 years of uninterrupted democratic rule in the country.
“June 12 represents our historic journey to building a nation where truth and justice reign, and peace is sustained and our future assured,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
Rivers women, under the aegis of Rivers Women Unite for SIM, have celebrated the second year anniversary of the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, with praise and thanksgiving.
The women, who gathered at the Ecumenical Centre, Port Harcourt, last Thursday, said that no matter the prevailing circumstances in the State, Fubara has shown great capacity in leadership and deserves to be celebrated.
They emphasised that their gathering was to thank God for what He has done through Fubara and the expected restoration and peace within the State.
They commended Rivers people and all Nigerians who have been standing by the Governor and Rivers people all through these trying times, saying it is now time for peace, reconciliation and restoration.
Speaking on behalf of the women, Dr. Queen Idanyingi Karibi Botoye, said the women have been consistently praying for the State and its leaders.
She urged the leaders of the State to put their differences behind and think about the people first and come together to advance the interest of the State.
The women assured that their prayers will continue until God restores the glory of the State and ensures greater harmony amongst its leaders and people.