Some experts in the environment sector in Abuj, on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 urged President Muhammadu Buhari to promote initiatives that would mitigate the effects of climate change.
The environmentalists, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), advised the president, who has been inaugurated for the second term in office, to pay more attention to the Ogoni oil spill clean-up.
Mrs Olufunto Boroffice, the Executive Director, Chanji Datti Ltd, a recyclable waste company, lauded the president for the signing and ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
“I believe the signing and ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change by the president was a great step in the right direction.
“My expectations for President Buhari’s second term in office is the promotion of initiatives and organisations that matter in the success of the signed treaty.
“A better focus on recycling and renewable energy, but also on circular economy, as this not only helps to achieve the Paris Agreement, but creates thousands of green jobs,” Boroffice said.
Also, Mr Taiwo Otitolaye, the Executive Director, Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA), an NGO, said over 75 per cent of diseases and deaths are caused by environmental factors in Nigeria.
According to him, these include, infant and child mortality, maternal mortality and other diseases.
“Access to clean and drinkable water is still a mirage while in other African countries, like South Africa, , water is a human rights issue, even as some state governments are planning to privatise water,” Otitolaye said.
According to him, the Ogoni clean-up has also not made much progress, as the expectations of the people are not met yet, hence the recent inter-communal clashes.
Otitolaye, therefore, called for what he called Environmental Health Literacy (EHL) to promote environmental awareness.
By Deji Abdulwahab
