A former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday warned Nigerians against actions that could destroy the environment and endanger human existence.
The former President gave this warning in a statement through the Centre for Human Security of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.
He warned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainages, using of vehicles and motorcycles that emit smoke and indiscriminate felling of trees.
He said all these contribute to the warming of the planet “which melt the polar ice and raise the sea levels.”
Obasanjo noted that there was flood in many parts of the world because of the rising sea levels brought about by global warming.
He said, “Many cities, towns and villages in Nigeria and in other parts of the world are witnessing flooding especially in coastal cities such as Lagos and Port Harcourt and many towns in the riverine areas in most southern states.”
Observing this year’s World Environment Day with the theme: ‘Raise Your Voice, Not The Sea Level,’ Obasanjo said Nigerians should plant trees, reduce garbage by recycling and reuse, walk or ride bicycle, drive fuel-efficient cars, and use public transport rather than individual cars among others.
He said, “Global warming is mainly caused by the release into the atmosphere of greenhouse gases especially carbon dioxide from emissions from our cars and other engines which burn petrol, diesel and kerosene.
“Cutting down trees takes off carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and it worsens the matter.”
The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, also warned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse on road medians and drainages.
He said his administration would no longer tolerate such actions.
The governor said that 3,000 environmental marshalls had been recruited to enforce environmental laws in the state.
To ensure that residents dispose off their refuse in decent manner, Amosun said he would soon inaugurate refuse bags to discourage further indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
He also said that he had approved N1bn for the purchase of equipment for evacuation of refuse in the state.
Source: Punch Newspaper JUNE 6, 2014
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