PROMOTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES ADVOCATED ON WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
As the International Community marks World Environment Day, the Managing Director of Enugu State Waste Management Authority, ESWAMA, Mrs Amaka Anajemba wants the people to keep their environment clean by bagging their refuse and disposing them properly in ESWAMA dumpsters.
The United Nations aware that the protection and improvement of the environment is a major issue, which affects the well being of people and economic development throughout the world designated fifth June every year as World Environment Day. The celebration of this day provides us with an opportunity to broaden the basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment.
Speaking on the significance of the day, Mrs Anajemba charged the people to appraise their actions to ensure that it did not contribute to environmental degradation. Mrs Anajemba said that drainages must not be blocked to prevent flooding and other environmental hazards.
“Cleanliness is next to Godliness, a clean environment serves as an avenue to have a good health, good environment gives value to life. Make sure that your environment is clean.”
In his submission, the Enugu State Commissioner for Environment Ambassador Fidel Ayogu explained the measures, the ministry had undertaken to ensure that people enjoy clean and safe environment.
“If you are dropping something in gutters, you are blocking the water ways and the result is flooding. If you are violating the planning of Enugu Capital Territory, you are working against the good sanitary condition of the State and building a project without EIA, it’s something that is against the environment.”
Ambassador Ayogu explained that the state government remained committed to ensuring that people and companies conform to the international standard on environment and bio safety. Other Nigerians called for the sustenance of the ban on indiscriminate evacuation of sand in some states in the South East to check gully erosion. They also demanded for the total ban on indiscriminate burning of tyres on roads in addition to checking the unacceptable level of fumes from vehicles and generators, which they said contributed to ozone depletion and danger to human.
The theme of this year’s World Environment Day which is “Connecting People to Nature” encourages people to appreciate the beauty of nature and how human intimately depend on it.
EMEFIENA OKONKWO