TODAY IS WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

Imo state government wants residents of the area to engage in massive planting of trees to help preserve the environment.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Iyk Njoku made the call at an event to mark this year’s World Environment Day in Owerri.

He expressed worry over the indiscriminate felling of trees without replacement noting that trees not only nourishes the soil but purifies the air. Dr. Njoku said government had banned all mining activities in the state capital while measures were being taken to tackle poor waste management challenging the state.

He said government could no longer bear the burden of refuse evacuation alone and hinted that an Agency that will be responsible for managing waste in the state will soon be put in place.

A representative of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA Mr. Stanley Onwuzo regretted that a number of human activities threaten the environment and called for reduction in gas emission.

Highlight of this year’s event which focused on biodiversity was planting of one hundred trees by the ministry of environment in some parts of the state.

 
Chinazo Ilechukwu