Two environmental activists have called for the strict enforcement of the country’s laws to protect the environment from further degradation.
The Executive Director of Keep and Trend, Mrs Bunmi Obidare, a Lagos-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), made the call in an interview with newsmen in Calabar, recently.
Obidare was in Calabar for a capacity building workshop for NGOs engaged in environmental activities in South-South geo-political zone.
“Environmental laws in Nigeria only exist on paper. But the enforcement of such laws will greatly help in reducing environmental hazards in the country,’’ she said.
The activist said the enforcement of such laws was necessary to check oil pollution, gas-flaring and deforestation, especially in rural communities.
Obidare said the workshop was specifically meant to build the capacity of NGOs in the South-South geo-political zone and assist them to effectively tackle environmental problems.
She disclosed that the workshop was sponsored by Global Environmental Facilitation [GEF/SGP), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
“We have discovered that most NGOs which fight the cause of the environment have poor knowledge of the ecosystem.
“ Therefore, we decided to build their capacity to ensure that they are well equipped to tackle environmental issues,’’ Obidare said.
Also speaking to The Tide correspondent, another environmental activist, Mr. Oluwole Omiwole, said most of the NGOs engaged in environmental activism lacked the requisite knowledge in the area.
He appealed to government to provide basic amenities, especially in rural communities, to check unnecessary cutting of trees for firewood or for other economic reasons.