Expert warns against flood-prone activities
NAN-HE-3
Environment
By Lilian Chukwu
Lagos, May 12, 2017 (NAN) Mr Odumeru Musiliudeen, a former Chairman of Environment Division of Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), on Friday advised Nigerians to be more conscious about their environment.
He said that they should be more conscious of gutters as the rainy season draws near.
Odumeru told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that people needed to be friendly with their environment to avert or reduce flooding and its effects in parts of the country.
He also urged state governments to up their games by ensuring that they cleared the drains.
“Once adequate drainage systems alongside with other facilities are in place, the compliance will be easier and environmental consciousness will improve.
“Private sector participation is required in the general protection of the environment because the government cannot do it all alone,’’ he said.
Odumeru called for involvement of corporate organisations in improving the environment, noting that very few companies in Nigeria took care of their environment.
He advised state governors to sensitise and awaken the consciousness of their people about their environment.
“The South-east has gully erosion problems, the North has desertification problems and Niger Delta has environmental pollution problems from oil exploration.
“Lagos has flooding and waste management problems due to large number of industries and people living in it,” he said.
Odumeru said that there were various ways of tackling environmental problems, adding that certain activities could lead to environmental degradation and hazards if not discouraged.
“Activities like tree felling which leads to desertification, sand filling and land reclamation which at the end of the day leads to flooding should be discouraged.
“Flooding and other environmental disasters in the country have claimed many lives and properties worth billions of naira, although not much can be done to stop a natural disaster.
“But, being conscious of the environment can reduce the devastation effect,” he said. (NAN)
LUC/ENN/TA
Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Tajudeen Atitebi