As a follow-up to a sensitisation programme organised for residents of Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Centre for 21st Century Issues has again enlightened stakeholders in the area on the right steps that needs to be taken in ensuring that there is no carbon emission, which is believed to be the main cause of climate change in the environment.
During a programme titled “A Day Stakeholders Interaction for Action Plan on Net-Zero” held on Monday, June 24, 2024, in conjunction with Ojokoro LCDA, Ms. Titilope Akosa, Executive Director, C21st Issues, noted that everybody needs to be involved in the net-zero project because of the enormous importance attached to it.
She said, “There is what we call carbondioxide and carbon emission and there are different kinds of carbon emissions leading to climate change, there emissions are caused by different human activities.
“If you recall, last year we had a programme like this in this community and we got a feel of what’s happening, but our partners want us to have an action plan to enable us determine the necessary steps needed to be taken in achieving our target. And we are going to use this action plans to seek for funding for the local government to make sure that we implement the action plan.
“When we are talking about climate change or net-zero, it is about the grassroots and how they feel it’s impacts, it is also about our activities leading to climate change,” she noted.
Akosa, who revealed that C21st Issues has a similar programme in six local government areas in all the six geo-political area across Nigeria, also highlighted some of the actions leading to carbon emissions to include felling of trees, cooking with firewood, methane from animal dumps, household waste, medical waste among others.
She disclosed that “there must be action plans put in place before we can think of achieving net-zero, these are alternatives to the conventional ways of doing things for instance women should think of making use of cooking gas as an alternative to using firewood for cooking. What can we do about the animal dumps from the ram and cow sellers close to Ijaiye Bus Stop? It might interest you to know that, in the advance world, they collect these dumps and convert to clean energy”.
In his submission, Chief Kingsley Ihekoronye, resident of the community, called on the authorities of the LCDA to empower the street sweepers in the area to do their jobs more effectively instead of littering the areas with dirt.
Chief Ihekoronye also urged the authorities to mandate the shop owners in the area to stop abandoning wastes collected in the drainage channels in their area by the sides of the gutters, saying: “By the time they leave it there, they find their ways back into the drainage channels. LAWMA should also come and pick the wastes promptly to ensure cleaner environment”.
Ustaz Fadilulah Muhammed, representing the Hausa Community, who called for more advocacy in enlightening residents of the area on ways to go about keeping a cleaner and safer environment, also heaped the blame on officials of LAWMA, saying: “They are fond of coming to pick wastes anytime they deem it fit which is more reason why some areas are littered.”
Mr. Emmanuel Ogbonre, on his part, called for more sensitisation and education on the part of the resident on what are the implications of indiscriminate waste disposals in relation to their wealth. He also asked for employment of more health officials to enable them cope with the task ahead.
Hammed Idowu Daniel Tijani, Executive Chairman, Ojokoro LCDA, said: “Majority of our people don’t understand the fact that they need to bag their refuse or put it in a waste bin and make sure that it is properly disposed when the PSP Operators come around to take it up. When they bag their waste properly picking up will not be difficult for the operators for proper waste disposal.”
On the essence of collaborating with C21st Issues, Tijani disclosed: “It is to acquaint our people with what is necessary to be done and what they need to know in the area where they can reduce emission of carbon dioxide within our community. With the number of stakeholders in attendance, by the time they go back home and take the message to the grassroots, this will surely complement efforts being put in place by the local government in ensuring that we have a cleaner and safer environment to live in.”
Dignitaries at the forum include Oladipupo Coker, Vice Chairman Ojokoro LCDA, Dr. Adebolu Adeyemi, Jamiu Odebiyi, Supervisor for the Environment, health officials, religious leaders, market men and women, and other stakeholders in the area.
By Ajibola Adedoye
