The Nation Newspaper

Tag: environment

  • ‘It’s my duty to make environment safe’

    ‘It’s my duty to make environment safe’

    Ayomide Atitebi is making a difference in the society through his activities to restore the environment. The Nigerian Law School student is an ambassador of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), promoting TUNZA Eco-generation – a campaign for green environment in Africa. He speaks to CALEB ADEBAYO (500-Level Law, Obafemi Awolowo University).

    What is TUNZA?

    TUNZA is a Kiswahili word which means to treat something with care or affection. But it is an initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which is specifically designed to develop activities in the areas of capacity building and environmental awareness for children and the youth, who are called TUNZA eco-generation ambassadors.

    What is the task like?

    It includes planning, executing and participating in various environmental awareness programmes in Nigeria, which, of course, is the region I represent. I have the responsibility of presenting the environmental situation in Nigeria at international forum.

    How were you selected as ambassador?

    I applied but they discovered that I have confidence to deliver the objectives of the initiative. I demonstrated a convincing and sincere passion for environmental protection, which is deeply rooted in my knowledge of environmental law and contemporary global environmental issues. Also, my activity plans as I was later informed, were considered to be unusually impressive.

    Can you share some of the activity plans?

    One of them is to engage public personalities, who have acquired a large public audience and credibility to use their platforms to effectively spread the message to every nook and cranny of Nigeria. Also, I intend to start a number of green projects involving youth and children with the aim of providing palliative solutions to our common environmental challenges in a way that will inspire others to join the group. I have already initiated some of these projects.

    What is the message of TUNZA?

    We are preaching that humanity should stop breaking the environment if we cannot fix it.

    What solution would you proffer for environmental hazards in the country?

    First, there is need for us to acknowledge that our development is sustainable only if the environment is made a key part of economic policies. And that encompasses rethinking our activities on the environment and its adverse consequences. Our waste management laws and policies need frequent review to meet the basic waste disposal challenges of this era. Such laws and policies must be strictly enforced to abate environmental hazards that would occur due to improper waste management. But more importantly, governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) need to collaborate to promote eco-literacy among people in the grassroots, many of whom have little knowledge about the environmental consequences of their agricultural and domestic activities.

    Is there hope for Nigeria?

    Of course. Literally, we are not in absolute gloom and the darkness is not peculiar to our sky alone. I believe that despite the numerous challenges, there are quite a number of Nigerians who, in their various capacities, are fixing the nation for good. We must be hopeful.

    Do you think our environment affects our living and livelihood?

    That is incontrovertible. We are largely affected by environmental degradation and the truth is that we are seen through what we turn our environment into and what we make of it is a direct reflection of what we have become in order to survive. We cannot be oblivious of the impact of climate change, which is seriously affecting the quality and quantity of our food production, uncontrolled rural-urban migration, unpredictability of seasons, extinction of some species of flora and fauna and the monstrous effects of global warming. All these are the ways the environment is affecting our living.

    World Environmental Day was commemorated last month. What does it signify?

    It was a day to reflect on the state of our environment and what we must do as humans to protect it, not just for our immediate benefit, but also for the use and enjoyment of future generations. Every June 5, I organise Eco-photo and Design contest for the youth and children.

    Have you reached out to the government on how to engender policies that would promote good environment?

    I must admit that it has been challenging to collaborate with government for the purpose of facilitating and implementing good environmental policies and this is because of protocols and bureaucratic hurdles. But then, it is my duty to strive to break through the protocols and get the necessary government officials and bodies interested in my eco-friendly intentions.

     

  • Works, environment and investment ministers must hear this

    SIR: Foodstuff traders in Ogun State under the umbrella of Isokan Foodstuff and Yam Dealers Association of Nigeria are compelled to openly demand explanation from the honourable ministers in the following ministries: Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Ministry of

    Environment and Federal Ministry of Trade and Investments to please clarify the issue of revenue tickets been issued to our members plying Igbo Ora – Abeokuta Road in Ogun State.

    We have noticed that some touts bearing daily tickets of N200 denomination for each of the federal ministries mentioned have been compelling our members to pay for the ticket or have their wares either seized or damaged.

    In our efforts at confirming the authenticity of these tickets, we have met officials of the ministries involved at the Federal Secretariat, Abeokuta but mum was the response. We were directed to make our findings  at Abuja.

    Our resolve to make these enquiry stems from the fact that no where in the entire country is such ticket being issued to traders except here in Ogun State. It is on this ground that we are asking if the tickets is specifically for only traders  and motorists in Ogun State.

    We want to crave the indulgence of our honourable ministers in the affected ministries to please urgent reply to this demand of ours as we cannot continue to be subjected to illegal revenue collections by any group under the guise that 90% of traders are unlettered.

    The various collections on the roads are part of the reasons why there is always hike in food prices as it is the general public that eventually bear the brunt.

     

    • Abiodun Taiwo & Chief Jimoh Ilo, Sango Otta, Ogun State.

     

     

  • Preserving the environment

    Preserving the environment

    Experts have unveiled the roadmap to harnessing the hidden treasure in climate change and how to explore its potential to tackle unemployment and create wealth. They spoke at the Sixth Lagos State Climate Change Summit. Assistant Editor MUYIWA LUCAS was there.

     

    For three days, experts gathered in Lagos at the instance of the state government to devise means of how to protect the environment. The summit in which speakers from Nigeria, Brazil, Japan, France, Finland, South Africa, Canada, Ghana, Germany and Cameroon presented 47 papers covered various aspects of business opportunities and financing options for climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.

    With theme: “Exploring business opportunities in climate change mitigation and adaptation: Lagos State in focus” Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) set the tone for the summit, when he expressed concern over the rapid population growth worldwide and the choices people make.

    He noted that these were compounding responses to the increasing challenge of climate change and the efforts to pursue sustainable development. According to him, with the global population of seven billion that may eventually reach about 10 billion in the next few decades, the world faces a challenge of meeting the needs of the people within the available and technological resources, unless deliberate attempt is made to slow the rate of population growth, particularly in the face of changing climate.

    This, he said, was one of the main reasons the state continues to see the import of a yearly dialogue on climate change, to draw attention to the need to pursue climate compatible development. He said the state, as the commercial centre of Nigeria, sees a lot of business opportunities in the pursuit of climate compatible development, and it is channelling its efforts towards harnessing such abundant opportunities, through the summit.

    The President, International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), Jeb Brugmann, delivered the lead paper on “Exploring innovative opportunity and smart solutions in climate change”. He explored the various ways investors and the public can key into the opportunities in climate change.

    From the papers, several observations were made. These include the devastating impact of recent extreme weather events (Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, floods in Nigeria and The United Kingdom, among others), which have continued to put the imperative for low carbon climate -resilient green and sustainable development initiatives in the front burner of climate discourse.

    The urgent need for decision-makers and the public at large to adopt effective climate-sensitive policies and ambitious climate actions, including a well informed high quality climate information on current and future impacts of climate variability and extremes (natural disaster hazards); research and access to better observational data, they noted, are critical to improve understanding of on-going changes in climate and their impacts; the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage established at COP19 in December last year, which offers Nigeria a new opportunity to start looking at, and dealing with climate change from a new paradigm angle; climate resilient agenda is not just about making cities greener, it is about growing businesses and creating employment in the agenda; climate entrepreneurship is the possible way to create employment for the youth in a clean environment.

    The event also observed that appropriate financing for climate change mitigation and adaptation measures and initiatives, remain a major challenge at all levels, but the newly established Green Climate Fund provides a good opportunity that can be tapped into.

    It said addressing climate finance readiness would help the state to improve its capacity to absorb financial resources and ensure that it builds up its internal financial infrastructure in order to act as a full participant in emerging international climate financing arrangements.

    Importantly, speakers emphasised that partnering with the private sector, particularly Financial Intermediaries, such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), is critical to seeking financing for business opportunities in climate change mitigation and adaptation because of their ability to help amplify implementation capacity and bring in additional resources.

    In this regard, AfDB is said to be committed to supporting Africa’s move towards climate-smart development, and it is helping to expand access to international climate change financing such as the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) portfolio. Also, critical to this is the need for an enhanced access to sharing and use of climate data at the regional, national and sub-national levels, such as hydro metrological data and metadata, on a voluntary basis, to facilitate the assessment and management of climate-related risk. Also, implementing comprehensive climate risk management approaches, including scaling up and replicating good practices and pilot initiatives, needs to be encouraged.

    Besides, it was observed that cities with high concentration of people and buildings, particularly those along the coastline, including Lagos, will be more adversely affected by climate change in the future and need to adapt to the impacts of climate.

    By the virtue of its geographical location along the coastal environment, the transport system of Lagos State is highly vulnerable to changing climate, while the design and use of the built environment is a critical arena for climate change mitigation because human settlements and activities within and between them account for over 40 per cent of carbon dioxide emission.

    It was also observed that the rate and pattern of urban growth in the state may not make land available for Lagosians in the next two decades, and this may force development into areas that are vulnerable to climate change. While the speakers commended the effort of state gvernment for redesigning its roads to make them climate resilient is commendable, it noted that evidence from developed nations indicate that there are viable and profitable opportunities in the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar for power generation.

    The speakers made some recommendations. These include challenging the government to reframe climate change issues and seek new kinds of solutions to help affected communities and people deal with negative effects of climate change that exceed their capacity, within the context of the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage.

    The state government was urged that, beyond having a policy on climate change, it should also legislate on it to ensure sustainability of initiatives for climate-resilient development. In addition, it should also lead a strategic stake-holder-engagement programme, with awareness on creation and capacity building on green models and strategies, and, more importantly, on the economics and business of going green.

    It was also agreed that beyond the support for micro-financing gender – sensitive green small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), the government should put up mechanism that will simplify climate change issues for easier understanding and comprehension by non-experts.

    Experts also recommended that the government may consider imposing carbon emission taxes on corporations in the energy sector, including generating set manufacturers and merchants to promote investment in climate-friendly business initiatives.

    In line with the theme of the summit, the state government was also admonished to support business opportunity through feasibility studies in green entrepreneurship in the energy sector, recycling and waste management, water management, transportation sector, urban agriculture and urban food systems, ecotourism and climate change monitoring to encourage potential investors, and should develop and implement strategies for public-private partnership in climate entrepreneurship to translate marketable opportunities for climate technology ventures into reality.

    Lagos was also charged to conduct a detailed air quality assessment for its metropolitan areas and set in motion the process to review regulatory framework for enforcing air quality standards, as well as establish an integrated air quality monitoring system for the state.

    And in partnership with the Federal Government, the state was advised to start reframing climate change issues and seeking new solutions to help affecting communities, to benefit from the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage, and encourage the collection of relevant data and research that will compare climate impact across sectors and to systematically assess climate risks.

    Stakeholders agreed that the summit was, indeed, worth its content as it is believed to be an agenda setting event even as the fight to save the environment continues to be on the front burners locally and internationally.

    The summit, which was partly supported by First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc, brought together a broad spectrum of about 750 stakeholders, comprising traditional rulers, senior civil servants from federal, state, and local governments, political office holders, members of the academia, students, representatives of the private sector, national and international experts in climate change, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and environmentalists, etc.

  • ‘Environmental sanitation’ll ward-off malaria’

    Nigerians have been advised to keep their surroundings clean to prevent breeding ground for mosquitoes – a disease that kills a child every 45 minutes.

    A malariologist at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Dr Bamgboye Afolabi said the disease can be eradicated, especially through environmental cleaniless.

    According to him, the disease has been in the country since the 50’s, i.e, during the colonial era.

    Afolabi said: “The colonial masters discovered that they were losing their warriors to mosquitoes than to war, so they started sharing bed nets, doing fumigation and environmental sanitation and inspections, among others.”

    He said in the 50’s, there was a global malaria eradication programme, but that it didn’t work in Africa because of the poor standard of living of the people.

    “The standard of living has to be improved first for malaria to be eradicated,” he added.

    On malaria burden, he said there is no statistics at the moment on the disease in the country.

    adding: “The south of Nigeria is endemic and many children die. Malariaologists have discovered that children below six months also suffer from the disease and may die if there is no adequate treatment.”

    He further said: “Most doctors are not aware of this and sometimes don’t see whooping cough and diarrhoea as a sign of malaria instead they treat these children for diarrhoea and whooping cough, not knowing they are suffering from malaria. This way wrong diagnosis will eventually make them die.”

    He said about 26 per cent of children born in the country die before six months, adding: “1.6 per cent of children above six months die of malaria, while 11 per cent of expectant mothers are lost to malaria, especially those who are in their first trimester.”

    He said Nigerians generally lose N80 billion yearly to malaria, stressing that as long as there is malaria, people will continue to remain in perpetual poverty.

    He said government policies to an extent have been effective, stressing that the government has resolved to end the disease. “During the Obasanjo’s era in 2000, there was a malaria submit, which was held in Abuja. Bed nets were shared to people.

    “There is also the National Malaria Eradication Programme, the Annual Health Submit on Malaria, Indoor Residence Spraying(IRS) and Intermittent Prevention Treatment of Malaria for expectant mothers (IPT) with this, the government is ensuring that malaria is no longer a public health problem.

    “There is also the general health policy on malaria. This policy should be reviewed every three to five years,” said the malariologist.

    Nigeria, he said, is at the verge of eradicating polio, so it would eradicate malaria too.

    Dr Afolabi said the government can eradicate malaria by putting together malariologists who will go to the south where malaria is endemic and conduct research there. Also they can educate them on how to control malaria and keep their environment clean and safe with mosquito nets.

    “Doctors can go to these villages and test the children there. In the past malaria was the main reason why patients come to the hospital for treatments. Malaria is endemic in the south. Epidemic in the north and between endemic and epidemic in the middle belt of the country,” Afolabi added.

     

  • ‘Our plan for a friendly environment in Osun’

    ‘Our plan for a friendly environment in Osun’

    THE Osun State government has intensified its efforts to foster a friendly and healthy environment through tree-planting.

    The state is planting 2.5million trees in first phase of its tree planting programme just as 1.5million trees have been planted already. It hopes to achieve a 10million-tree target.

    These facts were revealed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment predence Hon Bola Ilori, noting that prudence in the management of resources and positive response of the residents remain a major impetus.

    Making reference to the tree planting programme tagged: igi iye, he said he was impressed with the responses of the people of Osun to the programme.

    According to him, “Our ultimate target is to plant 10 million trees by Novembers 2014. What we are injecting now in the first phase is 2.5 million in all and in the last seven months, we have been able to inject 1.5 million trees. We still have 1 million trees to go before the end of this rainy season after which we will increase them to 5 million trees during the dry season in our nursery. That will take us to our expected 10 million igi iye before November 2014.” The programme has applauded from within and outside the country

    Ilori disclosed that the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, was awarded Gold Award on Environment by Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. The National Park Abuja and the Environmental Registration Officers Council of Nigeria, Abuja, also gave him an award on igi iye . Also, the Nigerian Botanical Society has also conferred on Ogbeni a Fellow of the Botanical Society of Nigeria. The Nigerian citizens in Netherlands have also recognised the importance of igi iye by giving Aregbesola an award too.

    He disclosed that the ministry has achieved so much because of its prudence. According to him, the purse of the state is lean. The ministry has been creative with the resources available to it that is why it has achieved so much within a short time with its lean resources.

    While allaying the fear that the tree planting exercise might come in conflict with the urban renewal programme which is currently ongoing in the state, he said tree planting was part of urban renewal programme. “In the traditional African urban setting, every household has a tree, it is just natural. It is just natural that we are talking about urban renewal. Africans are tree loving.”

    He said igi iye is different because of its neighbourhood tree campaign. It is not forestry regeneration. According to him, “we are planting trees on 64 hectare of land to mark Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s 64th birthday, rather than just throw parties, we will plant trees. For us, it is our own way of immortalising Asiwaju and do something for the environment in a very creative manner.

    “Igi iye is not about forestry, it is people getting back to nature. That is what we are doing, we are taking nature back to man. We hope that in two to three years, many homes in Osun will have trees not just one but many trees because we are talking about 10 million trees. We don’t have 10 million, we are really focusing on people to imbibe the culture of tree planting, their neighbourhood will become friendly.”

    Ilori said people are happy, because of the tag on tree. “The name is nice, the name is inviting. They all want to have igi iye. Even when we were initially said one tree per person, some students took 10 and 20 to plant. That was why we did not force the parents again, but if one student who is entitled to one is taking 20, what else do you need?

    Ilori explained that the prudent approach adopted by the ministry has really helped a lot in achieving greater results with its limited resources. According to him, the nylon picked from wastes formed the bulk of what was used for the nursery of the trees.

    Though the initial plan was to recycle through its buy-back programme, “it will interest you to know that out of 2.5 million seedlings of igi iye that we have, 2 million were from the nylon of pure water that we got. So, the nylon we retrieved from the drains and roadsides were what we used in planting the trees that made it cheaper for us and that was why we were able to deliver on igi iye because we did not depend on fresh nylon. The cost of fresh nylon alone would have made it impossible for us to do the project, we only did 500 black virgin nylon that we purchased. For us that is double gain.”

    He said government would soon start planting trees on the major highways, apart from what the people will plant in their homes.”

    He disclosed that waste had disappeared from the streets of Osun because the ministry is working with the private sector to cart wastes from houses, “We are spreading the bins gradually all over the state and if you go round you can’t have refuse in Osun as you have in other states. We are not doing badly in that area. Before now, it used to be the government doing it, but now we have introduced private sector participation in waste management.”

    While admitting that the biogas programme has not met the expected target, he expressed optimism that at the end of the day, the ministry will deliver on bio-gas.

    On ‘quit mosquito’, Ilori revealed that the ministry had begun a study and very soon, mosquito would be a thing of the past in the state. As of today, according to him, the ministry has been able to cut malaria incidence in the state by 50 per cent. “We want to bring it down to 20 per cent or so. Some people have been able to eradicate malaria, there is no basis to say it is impossible here. But it is not what we can eliminate in a day. We are launching the attack using several formulas that is why we say we are confident in what we are doing. We are distributing nets which take care of direct attack on mosquitoes, we want to attack their population that is why we are planning the war on mosquito. That is why we are doing what we are doing now before we launch major offensive on mosquito. We are hoping to get genetically modified mosquitoes so that we sterilise all that have survived our attacks.”

    Though there are enforcement agencies, the SA on environment and Sanitation is happy that many people have complied without being compelled.

    He attributed the success of its agency to its resourcefulness.”Ours is not about resources, it is about being resourceful.”

  • Benue council relishes clean environment

    Benue council relishes clean environment

    The chairman of Logo Local Government Area in Ugba, Benue State, Hon. Kester Kyenge faced an unusual challenge on assumption of duty: how to rid the council of filth.

    The streets stank, filled with heaps of rubbish. Its secretariat at Ugba town was scandalously dirty, taken over by reptiles and cockroaches, broken glass and whatnot.

    Instead of clearing the glass, some local government staff usually set the bush on fire and killed rats, a situation that led to strange infernos on blocks of offices within the secretariat.

    Ugba town, the local government headquarters, did not fare better either. Its streets were taken over by heaps of refuse while some streets were impassable.

    Ugba Main Market regarded as the biggest yam market in Benue North, was an eyesore as refuse dumps competed for space with traders.

    Hon. Kyenge has changed all that. Immediately he assumed duty as the council chairman, he set up an environmental task force committee   under the leadership Terzungwe Asom with a mandate to keep Ugba clean.

    Terzungwe Asom swept into action and the entire town and secretariat is now wearing a new look.

    As part of efforts to encourage clean environment, the task force has introduced awards for those with clean business and residential premises.

    The chairman of the task has also won so many awards for his efforts for clearing Ugba town of the massive refuse dumps which had become not just an eyesore but a health hazard.

    Recently the task force organised an award ceremony at Ugba where prizes were given to those whose environments were clean, ranging from residential to business premises. Winners went home with various prizes, including dust bins and cash, depending on the category.

    The chairman told Newsextra that the award is meant to encourage people to keep their environments clean and will continue until Ugba, head quarters of Logo Local Government Area is clean.

    The council secretariat staff, they expressed their happiness working in a clean environment, without any fears of snake attack.

  • ‘Create a conducive environment for entrepreneurs’

    The Federal Government has been urged to provide conducive environment for new entrepreneurs.

    A financial expert, Mr Shola Sulyman, gave theh advice in Omu-Aran, Kwara State.

    He said the private sector can revive the economy. He called for the adoption of a corporate turnaround management strategy to save troubled companies and return them to solvency.

    “When we talk about corporate turnaround management, I am referring to the way we resuscitate failed or failing businesses.

    “It’s a complex and tasking service that demand expected results within weeks or months.

    “When a business or company is in crisis, either financial or management, you need to take a proper diagnostic approach to ascertain where the problem lies,” he said.

    Sulyman, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Sash and White Consulting firm, said the high number of failed businesses had contributed to the increasing rate of unemployment and insecurity.

    He said the alarming rate of business failures in the Third World countries was not only crippling the economy, but affecting the citizens’ standard of living and their images.

    “For this reason, there is need to imbibe corporate turnaround management in developing economies and more especially in the public sector,” he added.

    Sulyman identified factors responsible for failure of businesses to include poor strategic choices, lack of financial discipline and obsolete business models.

    Other factors, he said, were economic recession, government’s intervention and disaster induced business failures.

     

    Some artisans in the Federal Capital Terrietory (FCT), called on the Federal Government to create aconducive environment for tradesmen and artisans. In an interview in Abuja, some of them said such environment would boost the country’s opportunity to achieve her economic growth objectives by ensuring the viability and vibrancy of the sector.

    Head of Operations, Baba Kenny Owens Creation,Arts and Craft Village, Mr Kennedy Eguakun, stressed the need for the development of the industry.

    He said there was also the need to provide opportunity for tradesmen and artisans to thrive in the country.

    “We are talking about increasing the economic growth of our country, but if we fail to provide opportunity for tradesmen and artisans to thrive, then the economy will not perform.“Nigerian artisans can help to make the country a great nation among countries of the world only if given priority.

    “Any nation that want to progress must pay attention to what the artisans are doing and they should be given the required attention.’’He added that the federal government should partner with artisans to strengthen the economy of the nation.

    Creative Director, Steeveruada Ventures, Mr Steven Eruada,, solicited for government support in training artisans, adding such training would enable them produce goods that can compared to products from the rest of the world.

    A painter,Mr Stanley Nwanyawu, pleaded with the Federal Government to create the necessary infrastructure to support entrepreneurship.

    Good access roads,he noted that would provide easy access to sources of raw materials and would also reduce the high cost of art works.

    “It will be beneficial to all artists if adequate infrastructures are provided to reduce the stress of producing artworks;as this will improve the economic condition of the country,’’ he said.

     

     

     

  • Community decries environmental degradation

    Community decries environmental degradation

    or residents of Ilupeju-Titun in Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, death comes by installment. The old, young, male and female are up against one enemy- thick black smoke  emanating from illicit  activities of hoodlums who daily burn used tyres at the Gotan Kowa dumpsite in its neighbourhood.

    The activity of these hoodlums had left many residents with various degrees of tract infections, ranging from asthma, bronchitis, and throat and lung cancer. Both young and old have become out patient at the nearby General Hospitals at Orile-Agege and Ikeja, while several private hospitals have their hands full dealing with cases of residents who suffer from respiratory infections.

    Most houses around the area are blackened with smoke arising from the burning activity at the dumpsite. No resident could afford to put washed clothes and apparels out in the sun to dry. This is because such clothing material would be blackened by soot.

    Opening up windows in the area for ventilation was a rarity, as such attempt is noted to be an invitation for one’s room to be invaded by smoke and open oneself to hazard.

    About 10 streets that made up the Ilupeju Titun community have borne this dilemma for close to three years, but the case got worse over the last 16 months, as they alleged the hoodlums scaled up their trade and turned the dumpsite into a major depot for used tyres which were usually laid by and burnt for the purpose of extracting copper wire from them, a badly needed component in the electrical sector.

    Among streets badly affected by this activity are: Soretire, Kabiawu, Oguntade, Olagoke and Ogundele. Others are Irepodun, Egbatedo, Oyatogun, Adeniji Eleru and Alexander Estate.

    Most of those who spoke with this Correspondent when he visited the area have the same wish list: ‘flush out these hoodlums before we all perish.”

    Olawale Kazeem, 38, said he and members of his family have been battling with respiratory ailment since February. Kazeem, a mechanic, said his wife and three year-old-child Olawale Jr have been in and out of the hospital for more times than he can remember. He added that it was when a doctor asked whether his child was usually exposed to any dust or smoke that it crossed his mind that the fume that envelopes their house daily is a potential health hazard.

    Another community leader Chief Jamiu A. Jimoh said the community is becoming more helpless as none of those they have appealed to for help to curb the excesses of these hoodlums have risen to their aid.

    He said: “We have written series of petitions to the Chairman Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), the Ministry of Environment and the state governor to help address the issue but the case seem to have defied any solution.

    “We are left with the impression that these people are above the law and that we did not matter. The only thing close to any government’s interest was when a LASEPA official led an inspection team to the dumpsite. They came, saw the loads of used tyres ready to be burnt and took notes, but that is the end we ever got from them. They never got back to us and everybody has since gone back as if nothing was wrong.”

    Jimoh continued: “The community has come short of resulting to physically confronting these hoodlums because of the need to preserve peace and security. But our youths are becoming restless and could resort to self help if government refuses to come to our aid soon. Everyone is coming down with respiratory sickness and we are all dying by installment. We have a right to life and we might take this right to the door steps of the dumpsite if we got no succour from the government.”

    Jimoh said members of the community have found out that the men had been melting the tyres in order to extract copper wires which were later sold.

    Another resident Otunba Adetola Odubela also expressed his frustration over the deadly fumes.

    “When I moved into this neighbourhood, it was a quiet, peaceful and easily accessible place. We started experiencing this sad thing over three years ago. Then, it wasn’t this bad, but over the years, particularly since 2011, it began to get worse and right now, has become unbearable. The floor of my house are covered with thick black smoke, the paintings have been defaced by black smoke and I do not open my windows again because of the smoke.

    “Few months ago, one of my neighbours had to travel out of the country to have throat surgery. Many of us are already carrying loads of carbon that are harmful in our system, yet the government seems not to bother. We have written series of protest letters. We are getting tired of waiting for a response,” Otunba Odebela said.

    The Chairman of Ilupeju Titun Community Development Association Alhaji Yisa Ejalonibu said the community had invited the lawmaker representing the constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly Hon. Yinka Ogundimu to come and see things for himself.

    “When he came here last year, he went round the place, took pictures which he promised to take to his colleagues at the Lagos House of Assembly. He promised that something would be done about this menace. Sadly, nothing has been done till date.

    “The fact is that we don’t even know what is going on anymore. Nobody seems to be interested in coming to our aid, which is why we decided to invite the media to help put our case again before the government. Our lives are being threatened by the activities of a few, whose economic activity is leaving a hail of health hazard on its immediate community.

    “Few days ago, a national newspaper used a big picture of a cart pusher pushing a number of used tyres into the dumpsite under the caption dignity of labour. What the newspaper did not know is that the activities of the cart pusher would leave on its trail health implication for those of us who live close to the dumpsite.

    “For a very long time we had been battling with the hazards of smell of waste water coming from the abattoir and lairage at Oko Oba. Now we are battling with another hazard of air pollution. From the air and the land, we are now being threatened and there seems to be nothing that is being done by those to whom we have all surrendered our mandate and sovereignty, to alleviate our suffering. This should not be, we want the government to step in and stop this unwholesome activity and assure us of the right to life,” Alhaji Ejalonibu further said.

     

  • Community decries environment degradation

    For residents of Ilupeju-Titun in Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, death comes by installment. The old, young, male and female are up against one enemy- thick black smoke  emanating from illicit  activities of hoodlums who daily burn used tyres at the Gotan Kowa dumpsite in its neighbourhood.

    The activity of these hoodlums had left many residents with various degrees of tract infections, ranging from asthma, bronchitis, and throat and lung cancer. Both young and old have become out patient at the nearby General Hospitals at Orile-Agege and Ikeja, while several private hospitals have their hands full dealing with cases of residents who suffer from respiratory infections.

    Most houses around the area are blackened with smoke arising from the burning activity at the dumpsite. No resident could afford to put washed clothes and apparels out in the sun to dry. This is because such clothing material would be blackened by soot.

    Opening up windows in the area for ventilation was a rarity, as such attempt is noted to be an invitation for one’s room to be invaded by smoke and open oneself to hazard.

    About 10 streets that made up the Ilupeju Titun community have borne this dilemma for close to three years, but the case got worse over the last 16 months, as they alleged the hoodlums scaled up their trade and turned the dumpsite into a major depot for used tyres which were usually laid by and burnt for the purpose of extracting copper wire from them, a badly needed component in the electrical sector.

    Among streets badly affected by this activity are: Soretire, Kabiawu, Oguntade, Olagoke and Ogundele. Others are Irepodun, Egbatedo, Oyatogun, Adeniji Eleru and Alexander Estate.

    Most of those who spoke with this Correspondent when he visited the area have the same wish list: ‘flush out these hoodlums before we all perish.”

    Olawale Kazeem, 38, said he and members of his family have been battling with respiratory ailment since February. Kazeem, a mechanic, said his wife and three year-old-child Olawale Jr have been in and out of the hospital for more times than he can remember. He added that it was when a doctor asked whether his child was usually exposed to any dust or smoke that it crossed his mind that the fume that envelopes their house daily is a potential health hazard.

    Another community leader Chief Jamiu A. Jimoh said the community is becoming more helpless as none of those they have appealed to for help to curb the excesses of these hoodlums have risen to their aid.

    He said: “We have written series of petitions to the Chairman Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), the Ministry of Environment and the state governor to help address the issue but the case seem to have defied any solution.

    “We are left with the impression that these people are above the law and that we did not matter. The only thing close to any government’s interest was when a LASEPA official led an inspection team to the dumpsite. They came, saw the loads of used tyres ready to be burnt and took notes, but that is the end we ever got from them. They never got back to us and everybody has since gone back as if nothing was wrong.”

    Jimoh continued: “The community has come short of resulting to physically confronting these hoodlums because of the need to preserve peace and security. But our youths are becoming restless and could resort to self help if government refuses to come to our aid soon. Everyone is coming down with respiratory sickness and we are all dying by installment. We have a right to life and we might take this right to the door steps of the dumpsite if we got no succour from the government.”

    Jimoh said members of the community have found out that the men had been melting the tyres in order to extract copper wires which were later sold.

    Another resident Otunba Adetola Odubela also expressed his frustration over the deadly fumes.

    “When I moved into this neighbourhood, it was a quiet, peaceful and easily accessible place. We started experiencing this sad thing over three years ago. Then, it wasn’t this bad, but over the years, particularly since 2011, it began to get worse and right now, has become unbearable. The floor of my house are covered with thick black smoke, the paintings have been defaced by black smoke and I do not open my windows again because of the smoke.

    “Few months ago, one of my neighbours had to travel out of the country to have throat surgery. Many of us are already carrying loads of carbon that are harmful in our system, yet the government seems not to bother. We have written series of protest letters. We are getting tired of waiting for a response,” Otunba Odebela said.

    The Chairman of Ilupeju Titun Community Development Association Alhaji Yisa Ejalonibu said the community had invited the lawmaker representing the constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly Hon. Yinka Ogundimu to come and see things for himself.

    “When he came here last year, he went round the place, took pictures which he promised to take to his colleagues at the Lagos House of Assembly. He promised that something would be done about this menace. Sadly, nothing has been done till date.

    “The fact is that we don’t even know what is going on anymore. Nobody seems to be interested in coming to our aid, which is why we decided to invite the media to help put our case again before the government. Our lives are being threatened by the activities of a few, whose economic activity is leaving a hail of health hazard on its immediate community.

  • Commissioner seeks youth environmental advocacy

    agos State Commissioner for the Environment Mr Tunji Bello has advocated the inclusion of youths in environmental advocacy.

    He said over the years, adults had continued to assume that they know best but the convention on the rights of child demands that we question that assumption.

    The commissioner spoke at the fifth anniversary of Climate Change Club for schools.

    He urged adults to listen to children and ensure that their views inform decisions and actions taken on behalf of them.

    Bello stated that state Governor Babatunde Fashola is driven by the vision of attaining a cleaner and sustainable environment, believing that promoting children’s participation in this sphere is about fulfilling their rights to be active citizens that can always rise in defense of the environment.

    He commended the children on their achievements in the areas of “ Me and My Tree Programme” waste management, waste sorting, the 3 Rs( Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) environmental advocacy, noting that it has greatly enhanced government’s effort at curbing degradation in the environment.

    Earlier, Governor Fashola revealed that the total number of children involved in Climate Change now stands at 21,893 spread across the 654 private and 2,116 public primary and secondary schools in the state. According to the governor, the children are not passive members but change agents by starting at home.

    agos State Commissioner for the Environment Mr Tunji Bello has advocated the inclusion of youths in environmental advocacy.

    He said over the years, adults had continued to assume that they know best but the convention on the rights of child demands that we question that assumption.

    The commissioner spoke at the fifth anniversary of Climate Change Club for schools.

    He urged adults to listen to children and ensure that their views inform decisions and actions taken on behalf of them.

    Bello stated that state Governor Babatunde Fashola is driven by the vision of attaining a cleaner and sustainable environment, believing that promoting children’s participation in this sphere is about fulfilling their rights to be active citizens that can always rise in defense of the environment.

    He commended the children on their achievements in the areas of “ Me and My Tree Programme” waste management, waste sorting, the 3 Rs( Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) environmental advocacy, noting that it has greatly enhanced government’s effort at curbing degradation in the environment.

    Earlier, Governor Fashola revealed that the total number of children involved in Climate Change now stands at 21,893 spread across the 654 private and 2,116 public primary and secondary schools in the state. According to the governor, the children are not passive members but change agents by starting at home.