Environment

Flood: FCET Staff Cry Out For Help

Published

3 years ago

November 13, 2022

Staff of Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, Rivers State who were displaced from their homes by this year’s flood disaster have called for their inclusion by the Rivers State Flood Management Committee Taskforce in the ongoing donation of palliatives to flood ravaged areas in the state. They also urged the Federal Government,Ogba Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Council,the National Emergency Management Agency and multinational companies operating in the area to come to their aid.
According to a press release made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt, they complained of being neglected by relevant authorities in view of the fact that they were also affected by the disaster.
According to the release, no government agencies or multinational have sympathised with staff of the institution who have suffered various loses as a result of the flood.
“Since over one month when they were sacked from their various homes and their properties worth millions of Naira destroyed by the flood, nobody or government agencies have cared to ask how they are managing”.
They lamented that for the fact that they are not staying in IDP camps does not mean they were not victims of the 2022 flood disaster and appealed for help from concerned authorities in terms of relief materials, and medical support to cushion the effect of the disaster on them.
The release further said that Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku flood victims staff numbering over 600 with their family members are now taking refuge in the college students hostels, lecture halls, assembly halls while others are in hotels with relations begging for assistance from the Federal Government, Rivers State Government, the political parties, the 2022 ONELGA Flood Mitigation Committee, the Chairman of the local government Council, the Oba (Eze Ogba) of Ogbaland, NEMA, NAOC Ltd., Indoroma, Elf, NDDC, Bro. Felix Obuah, and other philanthropic bodies and individuals to come to their aid as they are suffering like other flood displaced persons.
The release signed by the Public Relations Officer of the college, Prince Charles Amadike-Otoboh, stated that some of those displaced include members of the Academic Staff Senior and Junior Non-Teaching Staff belonging to Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) being the three unions existing in the College.
The chairmen of the unions in the college, Comrades Richard Onuotu, Pakaye Ekene and Ireju Wokocha of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) respectively, when contacted said they have comprehensive lists of genuine flood victims of their union members and wondered why over one month since their members were displaced by the flood disaster, no assistance has come to them from any government official, companies, philanthropists, individuals and organisations, describing it as an open neglect.
.They however thanked the management of the College led by the Provost, Dr. Emmanuel Ikenyiri, for providing some of the affected victims shelter in the College students hostels and some lecture halls, assembly halls, among others.

By: John Bibor

Environment

Lagos State Government Refuted Resumed Monthly Sanitation

Published

6 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Lagos State Government on Saturday refuted an online media report claiming that the state had resumed the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said no categorical statement had been made regarding the commencement date of the exercise.

Wahab explained that what he told newsmen after a project inspection tour last Sunday was that engagements with relevant stakeholders were still ongoing.

He said the state government had planned to begin with a sensitisation programme last week, but was constrained by logistics issues.

“The truth is, we were meant to start with a sensitisation programme last week, but we had a logistics issue. We need to find a day that is acceptable to all stakeholders,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the exercise might return very soon, adding that the official date would be communicated by the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The commissioner urged law-abiding residents to continue their lawful activities without hindrance, assuring them that adequate notice would be given before the exercise was reintroduced.

The monthly environmental sanitation, previously held on the last Saturday of every month between 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m., was suspended in November 2016 following a legal pronouncement restricting movement during the exercise.

However, renewed waste management challenges, including clogged drainage channels and indiscriminate refuse disposal, have sparked calls from residents for its reinstatement.

Environment

LAWMA Director Says Sweeping Reforms Have Improved Waste Collection

Published

6 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, says sweeping reforms and infrastructure upgrades have significantly improved waste collection efficiency across the state.

Gbadegesin disclosed this to newdmen last week in Lagos state.

He said LAWMA expanded night cleaning operations and increased street sweeping coverage to 1,000 routes statewide.

He disclosed that 16,000 street sweepers were currently engaged across Lagos, supported by improved logistics and operational systems.

He said LAWMA acquired new equipment three years ago to complement Private Sector Participants (PSP) compactors and rehabilitated old trucks to strengthen fleet capacity.

He added that additional compactor trucks were expected in the coming months.

“Heavy-duty equipment is now deployed to clear legacy illegal dumpsites across communities,” he said.

Gbadegesin said LAWMA strengthened human capacity by expanding its advocacy department and deepening collaboration with Community Development Associations (CDAs) and local councils.

He revealed that each local government now operates a waste management task force, supported by LAWMA integration desks.

On waste-to-wealth initiatives, he disclosed that the Lagos State House of Assembly had ratified a concession agreement with ZoomLion to construct transfer loading stations and material recovery facilities.

The facilities, he said, would enable closure of the Olusosun and Solous landfills and process 4,000 tonnes of waste daily.

He said organic waste, which constitutes about 50 per cent of Lagos waste, would be converted into compost, while plastics would be recycled into waste bins.

Gbadegesin also disclosed plans for a 1,500-tonnes-per-day waste-to-energy plant in partnership with a Dutch firm, Harvest Waste.

He said the project was expected to generate 60 megawatts of electricity to support emerging industrial zones.

He further highlighted a pilot biogas plant at the Epe Food Market, which processes 500kg of organic waste daily to generate electricity for market operations.

He called for stronger media collaboration to enhance public awareness and behavioral change.

“Waste management is not just about equipment; it is about human behaviour, enforcement and strong regulatory systems,” he said.

He urged residents to utilise LAWMA’s toll-free lines and digital platforms to report service gaps instead of resorting to illegal dumping.

Environment

Ministry Of Environment To Validate A Landmark Policy To Advance Nigeria’s Economy

Published

6 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Ministry of Environment last Thursday convened key stakeholders in Abuja to validate a landmark policy brief aimed at tackling marine litter to advance Nigeria’s transition to a circular economy.

Mrs Falmata Bukar-Kolo, the Deputy Director, Solid Waste Management and Technology Division in the ministry, warned that plastic pollution poses serious risks to aquatic ecosystems and public health.

She stated that microplastics have already entered the food chain through fish consumption, while clogged waterways, soil contamination, and greenhouse gas emissions from burning plastics are worsening the environmental crisis.

Bukar-Kolo said that plastics, though widely used, are non-biodegradable and persist in the environment for years.

She called for improved waste management systems, stronger enforcement of environmental regulations, and behavioural change amongst citizens and businesses.

Mr Clem Ugorji, Regional Coordinator of PROTEGO, emphasised on the urgency of action, saying Nigeria’s marine litter crisis carries environmental, economic, and reputational costs.

He expressed optimism that the 2025 to 2040 roadmap endorsed at the workshop would shift the country from prolonged dialogue to concrete implementation.

The event was organised in collaboration with PROTEGO (Prevention of Marine Litter in the Gulf of Guinea).

Discussions centred on a draft policy input paper titled “Policies, Institutional Set-up and Financing of Marine Litter Prevention in Nigeria,”.

These seeks to present insightful analysis and a set of recommendations to address the structural and financing gaps that have long hindered effective waste management, particularly plastic leakage from inland communities and waterways into the Atlantic Ocean.

The PROTEGO initiative is supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection and led by adelphi, with implementation in Nigeria by WASTE Africa and the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC).

The policy brief is a key delivery for one of the programme’s four impact areas – building capacities of public stakeholders.