Residents of Lagos State, especially of coastal communities, have been admonished to embrace environmental attitudinal changes, including abstinence from all forms of environmental pollution and encroachments.
Permanent Secretary (Office of Environmental Services) in the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Omobolaji Gaji, spoke at an advocacy meeting at the Lagos State University (LASU). According to him, the programme was part of the effort to create awareness of the importance of preserving coastal communities and maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
Gaji, who was represented by the Director of Sanitation Services, Dr. Hassan Sanuth, explained that coastal communities are advantageous to humanity based on their contribution to the food supply chain.
He noted that coastal regions are important features in the landscape that provide numerous beneficial services for humans, fish, and wildlife. ‘Some of these services and functions include protecting and improving water quality, providing food and maintaining surface water flow during dry periods.’
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Gaji, however, lamented that the anthropogenic activities of residents in coastal communities in the state, following constant pollution and encroachment in various forms, threaten the ecosystems. He highlighted the activities to include indiscriminate disposal of industrial and human waste dumped on wetlands and rivers, noting that everyone must be encouraged to commit to proactively improving coastal communities.
According to the permanent secretary, communities in Ojo, Ikorodu, Ibeju-Lekki, Badagry, and Apapa were at great risk and sensitive to these prevailing environmental issues, adding that danger looms if human attitude to the environment is not appropriately checked.
He said: “We all need to take a recourse in ensuring compliance to effective and efficient waste management, wastewater storage and disposal, sanitary tank construction and management.”