Environment
FG Partners German Agency On Waste Battery Management
The Federal Government says it is collaborating with Deutsche Gesellschaft fur International Zunsammenbeit (GIZ) to develop National Policy and guidelines on Waste Battery Management to ensure safe and healthy environment in the country.
The Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammad Abubakar disclosed this at a workshop on the Draft National Policy on Waste Battery Management recently in Abuja.
The workshop was jointly organised by the ministry and the German Agency for International Cooperation or (GIZ) under the auspices of Nigeria Energy Support Programme (NESP)
He said that the ministry would work assiduously to ensure speedy approval of the document by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Abubakar said that Nigeria was a party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal.
He added that the convention controls the management hazardous wastes and other wastes which include used of batteries in the manner that would safeguard human health and environment.
“I am glad that the development of this policy is coming at a time of heightened global concerns on the dangers of improper handling of waste batteries.
“The government is deeply committed to its obligations under the Basel convention on the issues of managing hazardous and other wastes.
“In this regard, government has put in place a permitting scheme which allows hazardous waste that Nigeria does not have the local capacity to handle to be exported to country that have the technical capacity to manage them in an environmentally sound manner.
“The scheme covers a whole range of hazardous wastes including waste batteries, electronic wastes, used oil, spent catalysts, asbestos waste and used tyres among others,’’ he said.
Abubakar said that approval had been given for review of the guidelines on the environmentally sound management of Used Lead Acid Batteries (ULABs).
He said that the approval was offered between July 26 and July 30, at the joint online segment of conferences of the party to Basel, in Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention.
The minister explained that batteries contained heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, silver, and lithium among others which could cause anemia, kidney and brain damage leading to behavioral changes as well as death.
He commended the effort of GIZ-NESP for the collaboration and the European Union as well as German government for funding all the activities on the policy document.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige said that batteries polluted the environment, soil, water, and plants, if not properly handled.
Ngige, who was represented by Mrs Lauretta Adogu, Director, Occupational Safety and Health in the ministry, said that recycling of waste batteries was part of the measures to solve environmental challenge.
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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