NAN-AE-9
Waste
By Oluwabukola Akanni
Ibadan, March 23, 2017 (NAN) A don, Dr Toyin Abegunrin, has urged the federal and state governments to regulate the operations of industries to guard against the indiscriminate discharge of waste water into the environment.
Abegunrin, a lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Thursday.
The lecturer, who was speaking against the backdrop of celebrations to mark the 2017 World Water Day, said the call became necessary in view of the harmful effect the chemical substances discharged could have on humans.
Cue in audio (Abegunrin)
“Most of the time these industries try to dodge meeting up with standards and that is why when scientists visit them to take samples of the waste water they discharge, they won’t allow it.
“Some of these chemicals produce effluence (toxic waste) that are rich in heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, and arsenic.
“When these chemicals enter the soil, they mix with the water underground and become poisonous to humans.
“It is very dangerous when we talk of sustaining the environment and yet we don’t regulate the discharge of effluences by industries.
“The federal and state ministries of environment should do something; they should not allow foreigners operating industries here kill us.
“So it is good that we monitor what is being discharged into the environment, otherwise we will end up destroying.’’
Cue out audio
Abegunrin further urged the government to impose strict sanctions on erring industries that fail to comply with environmental laws in the overall interest of the people. (NAN)
BA/DOR/YEE
Edited by Nyisom Dore/Emmanuel Yashim
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