Although, Friday, June 5, was World Environment Day (WED), many Nigerians living in Lagos were oblivious of it or its significance and simply went about their day’s business. Freelance Reporter, Joke Kujenya, who went to town found out that Nigerians were not even aware of what roles to play.
As early as 9.02am, amid the teensy-weensy windy weather of the morning rain, this reporter was somewhere under the Oshodi fly-over in Lagos, popularly known as ‘Oshodi Under-bridge.’ It was the last day of the week and scores of Lagosians hurried towards their various destinations. To get to their points, some formed long queues, as they awaited Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses, while a few of them who could not afford the long time on the queues, hopped into soole vehicles (private cars and SUVs used as cabs). To them in general, it was business as usual.
After observing the scenario for a few minutes, this reporter approached some of the commuters to feel their pulses. Just how much do they know about June 5, the World Environment Day?
An elderly man, Pa Adedayo, 71, still agile for that age and going to his business, was the first respondent.
“Are you aware that today is World Environment Day?” We asked.
“No, I am not,” Pa Adedayo replied, “and what is the day about?”
Not surprised, this reporter explained to him that it was the day set aside to ensure that every citizen kept their immediate environments clean. It was a day when everyone is saddled with the civic duty to tell the other person to observe same.
Following that brief education, the old man walked away, smiling.
Janice Ezendu, 34, a career lady also confessed her ignorance: “Sorry, I don’t know about it.”
Same for young Segun Majekodunmi, 18, a Mass Communications student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, who was lost for words: “Though, I don’t know about this, but I know about ‘World Milk Day,’ which is commemorated on June 1st every year?”
Likewise Khadijat, a young female who hawked gala and allied snacks at Oshodi. She knew nothing about the day, other than the now traditional monthly ‘environmental sanitation day.’
Even a well suited up, Richard, a banker on his way to his office that Friday morning said: “World Environment Day? Serious? It’s interesting to be hearing about it for the first time in Nigeria though.”
“And what role am I to play as a citizen?” He asked.
“Simple,” this reporter responded. “Just inform your friends to be more environment friendly not just for today but every day.”
About the same time, the government of Lagos State commemorated the day in the five divisions of the state namely: Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe; where the governor was represented by key personalities.
A few days earlier, the government had urged the people of the state to keep drains around their homes clean, to allow for free flow of storm water and prevent flooding, as the peak of the rainy season approached. Also, weather forecast for Tuesday, June 2nd and Friday, June 8th, 2015 from the Water Resource Department, Office of Drainage Services, Ministry of Environment had predicted that the WED week was expected to be mild in temperature, with cases of rainfall in the state. As a result, the government called for intensive cleaning of drainages in flood-prone areas within the state as the rain gets heavier.
In all, 11 people were spoken to, but beautiful as the messages of the day were, none of them knew of it, although they are aware of their basic responsibilities of maintaining and keeping their immediate environments clean.
World Environment Day and Sustainable Development Goals
The 2015 World Environment Day has as its theme: ‘Seven Billion Dreams, One Planet. Consume with Care;’ but sadly, scores of the Nigerian populace, whose daily activities affect their immediate environment, are in total darkness about the day or what its theme represents.
For the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN/SDGs), environment is at the heart of its overall progressive issues, especially, if the world is serious about putting an end to poverty. Environment, the UN argues, is inter-married with all socio-economic developments of every nation of the world.
Thus, in its 17-point Sustainable Development Goals focal point, the UN report states that “Development, at its most basic, is about reducing poverty. Dig deeper and you discover that it touches all our lives in ways we little imagine!”
It adds that: “It’s the economy, stupid! Yet economics are at the heart of development and an understanding of this singular fact is vital for anyone participating in a public debate on development priorities….”
The essence is on how the well-being of humanity, the environment and economies ultimately depends on the responsible management of the planet’s natural resources. It is based on the grounded evidence that people are consuming far more natural resources than what the planet can sustainably provide. As a result, several of the earth’s ecosystems are reaching precarious tilting levels of depletion or irreparable change, pressed by high population growth and economic development.
Looking ahead, the UN noted that by 2050, should the current consumption and production patterns remain the same and with a rising population expected to reach 9.6billion, the world might require triple its current planets to sustain the human way of life, as there is the need to live within global precincts as the most promising strategy for safeguarding a vigorous future.
By this, the UN is poised to use the WED campaign as its prime channel for informing global consciousness and action for the environment.
On a UNEP tweet on the post-2015 agenda, the message notes: “Over the years, the WED has grown to be a broad, global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated by stakeholders in over 100 countries. It also serves as the ‘people’s day’ for doing something positive for the environment, galvanizing individual actions into a collective power that generates an exponential positive impact on the planet.”
Instructively, the ‘people’, in the Nigerian situation, are least aware of such a day to enact such a commitment.
Pondering on that, Olumide Idowu, Campaign Specialist, ClimateWED & UNISDR Youth Champion Africa, said: “I am in total agreement with the focus of the SDGs. And really, while talks about the environment are strictly not a business matter, yet, we cannot divorce environmental issues from our day-to-day business, as our basic activities either make or mar the environment we all live and relate.”
In an interview at a session between journalists and environment experts in Lagos, Idowu said, “It is vital for everyone to understand that to end poverty; the culture of keeping our environment healthy must be embedded with the focus to enhancing the living standards of a nation’s citizens.”
He added that “One of the most dangerous consequences of our polluting the environment is that we add huge amount of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels, such as oil and gas and through industries and automobiles. With this, my suggested solution is that we need to take responsibility for our immediate environment. By doing so, we all reduce the emission and make our community a better place for all. This must start with the head of a family to make sure that he educates members of his household to make their environment clean. It is only this way that we can have a successful environment without waiting for the government.
“In essence, WED is just a celebration to remind all of us about our planet earth. For us to relate this to the SDGs is a very strong point, which calls for action for all Nigerians. From the government, everyone must be aware of what the SDGs are all about and start putting them into practice. There must be education and information around SDGs even in schools. Sadly, our government does not even have the understanding of SDGs, which is why people barely know what WED or SDGs are. However, it can be achieved if more awareness is created.”
At about the period this reporter was having a vox-pop with some citizens, officials of the National Environmental Standards and Enforcements Agency (NESREA), led by its Deputy Director, Lagos Coordinator, Mrs. Eze Eunice Oyibo, arrived under the bridge with posters and educative materials, which they distributed to Lagosians.
When asked why they were there, she said they had come to speak specifically with leaders of commercial vehicle operators under the bridge in Oshodi. She noted that protection of the environment also has to do with the kind of generators people use in their homes and work places, as the smoke from such impacts negatively on the home, people and their environment.
Oyibo said: “We have told you before, and we are telling you again that Tiger Generators in particular; and any two-stroke engine, remains banned by the Lagos State government with a circular issued since 2013 in order to preserve our environment.”
Surrounded by some leaders of bus operators associations, hawkers and a few market men and women, Oyibo said that “A two-stroke engine is one in which oil and petrol are mixed together to power a generator,” noting that “the smoke emanating from such is as dangerous as the carbon monoxide being emitted from the exhaust of poorly maintained vehicles because they all pollute the homes and environments, where people live and make their livelihood.
“Carbon Monoxide mixing with Carbon Dioxide is toxic and these both kill people almost immediately or slowly as the case may be.”
She added that while there are several aspects of environmental problems, NESREA decided to look at one aspect of its regulations which is “the Environmental Regulation of Vehicular Emissions, which is why we are here today. And this is why we are talking to transport operators because the federal government is working on creating Safety Centres, where all of these issues will be duly addressed and the people given new orientation in ways to relate with their immediate environment.”
