Environment
Nigeria’s National Park Service To Mitigate Effects Of Climate Change
The Assistant Conservator – General of the National Park Service, Dr Agboola Okeyoyin, says the park is set to reduce the negative effects of climate change in the country.
Okeyoyin said this on Wednesday at Lafia during the sensitisation on the establishment of the 10 new national parks and inauguration of the 18 – man transition committee for the take – off of Marhai National Park.
He said the Federal Government was committed to resolve conservation activities and to increase the amount of forest cover under protective management.
“Government is also committed to improve internal security and ultimately reduce negative impacts of climate change in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and enhance socio-economic development of the nation.
“It is important to note that the essence of this Transition Technical Committee is to ensure the successful metamorphosis of the Marhai Forest Reserve into the Marhai National Park.
“This is in the bid to achieve the overall aims and objectives for which the national park is established.
“Before today, stakeholders of the 10 designated national parks have been engaging on how these parks can be transformed into world-class tourist attractions among other objectives,” Okeyoyin said.
He said that the National Park Service was fully aware of the devastating effects of unwholesome environmental practices and therefore was committed to checkmate them.
“To this end, the Service is fully committed to this transition process and believes that the committee being inaugurated today by Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State would do nothing but a very commendable job,” Okeyoyin said.
He commended the Nasarawa Commissioner for Environment, Mr Yakubu Kwanta whom he said had been very helpful in ensuring that the designated park transited smoothly.
Okeyoyin lauded media practitioners for the positive role they played in the attainment of the upgrading of Marhai Forest Reserve to Marhai National Park.
In his speech, Governor Sule urged the committee and stakeholders in the environment sector to make tourism a priority saying that it could generate more employment and be a source of revenue to the state.
He said that the upgrading of the Marhai Forest Reserve to National Marhai Park was a welcome development to the state.
Sule said that the newly inaugurated committee to oversee the affairs of the park was carefully selected due to their doggedness in delivering efficient services to the people of the state.
He urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them by the state government by discharging their duties effectively.
Responding, the Chairman of the committee and commissioner, Kwanta commended the governor for inaugurating the 18-man committee to spur the state into tourism and economic development.
He said that in the history of the state, the event was a milestone.
“Out of the 10 newly acquired national parks in the country, Nasarawa State is taking the lead in a smooth transition of the handing over and taking over of the park,” Kwanta said.
He promised that the committee would do its best to preserve the legacy of the new park.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 18-man committee was drawn from Ministry of Environment, civil society groups, stakeholders in the environment sector and the media. (NAN)
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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