…FG urges citizens to pay their dues
As Nigeria joins the world to commemorate the 2022 edition of the World Environment Day (WED), the Federal Government has urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory to pay up their service charges, as they currently owe the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and its cleaning partners over N8 billion for keeping the city clean.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mr. Olusade Adeshola revealed this during his address to mark the calendar event, themed “Only one Earth; Together we can protect it”.
The event, hosted by the AEPB, took place at their head office, Abuja.
According to Olusade, records show that just two districts in the FCT owe the board over N8billion. He noted that such huge debts constrain the activities of the AEPB. He, therefore, urged the FCT residents to support their environment by ensuring they pay their service charges complete and support efforts to keep the FCT clean.
“This is the 50th year that the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm, Sweden led to the establishment of this day as the World Environment Day. It is, therefore, my honour to welcome you to the 2022 World Environment Day. Over the years, this day has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental public outreach and is commemorated by millions of people across the globe.
“What is the situation today? The negative footprints of human activities continue to threaten the sustainability of our environment. There is widespread environmental damage which keeps occurring due to unwholesome practices and uncontrolled dumping of hazardous waste, indiscriminate lobbying and illegal extractions of mineral and natural resources, with their attendant adverse impact on lives and livelihood.
“A good and a friendly environment, you will agree with me, means good health and happiness. Environmental degradation such as poor refuse disposal, dry valleys, narrowing of water courses as you have often experienced in Abuja, forest depletion etc, cause pollution, flood, hunger and outbreak of epidemic diseases. All of these threaten our livelihood in multiple ways.
“Other direct effects of over-exploitation of the environment include the extinction of habitats and the structure of species, air pollution, water pollution, groundwater depletion and contamination, chemical risk, environmental decline, energy waste, uncontrolled population growth, global warming, depletion of the Ozone layer to mention but a few.
“Local and global environmental challenges that are being faced around the world today are attributable to how humans have exploited the environment. Accordingly, the exploitation of the environment has become a very serious concern. This year’s World Environmental Day, therefore, has brought to our consciousness that we only have one Earth. It is our collective obligation to protect the Earth. If we fail, we shall all be doomed. Therefore, let us join hands in our quest to promote a greener and cleaner environment in Nigeria and the world at large.”
In another development, the director, AEPB, Mr. Osilama Braimah, said the board aims to achieve about 30 per cent waste reduction before his administration ends, by putting in place waste stations.
“For us in the FCT, we are urgently prioritising climate action and environmental protection through quality decisions that promote sustainable progress. To this end, we are taking proactive measures to tackle pollution and waste management which is one of our biggest challenges in the territory.
“We hope to achieve 30 per cent waste reduction as soon as possible by putting in place waste transfer stations. At least, one will be delivered before the end of this administration. For water management, we already have in place major, swift treatment plants and small operators. These guarantee sustainable water use.
“Let us be reminded that a healthier environment is essential for all of us, regardless of our social status or where we live. There is a need for us to wisely manage nature and ensure equitable progress to these services, especially for the most vulnerable people and communities. We can achieve a lot when we put the planet first and collaborate. Hand-in-hand, we must resolve that our planet does not only survive but thrives because we only have one Earth,” he said.
