Environment
Waste Disposal: Five States Take Measures To Keep Environment Clean
State governments in the North-Central zone and part of North – East are taking measures to ensure proper waste disposal, this is according to The Tide source survey.
The states are, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba.
In Plateau, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Yakubu Idi, said new strategies for waste management were based on the experience his ministry and its agencies had garnered over time.
“We used to have problem of dino bins, some of them were already worn out, and we have put in two strategies, one of which is community engagement.
“We keep the skeletons of the worn out dino bins and give out to communities to refurbish and keep in their environment and take ownership.
“The second strategy is that we are intensifying our efforts to see that the contract of the 40 dino bins which was awarded in 2020 is completed.
“As it is today, we have 18 in place and we are waiting for the balance of 22 and the contractor has given us six months within which he will complete work. When that is done, we will place them in strategic places including Terminus area, Jos.
“We have done it in such a way that the Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA) would concentrate on collection and evacuation of public waste.
“Private waste operators would be engaged to take care of waste from private residence and corporate organisations,” Idi explained.
He said that the ministry faced a major challenge of lack of trucks in 2020, but had recently refurbished seven trucks and would refurbish more to make the number 12, in a few months.
Idi also disclosed that the state’s monthly environmental sanitation had been put on hold, but efforts were on to resuscitate the exercise.
“We have environmental laws in place, what we need to do more in 2021 is enforcement. The authorities saddled with the responsibility of enforcement are developing strategies, as the level of compliance is abysmally low.
“We have the intention of reviewing the laws to meet current realities but at the moment, we will use the old ones.
“According to the laws, shop owners are supposed to have polythene bags or bins where they can dump their refuse. Those who fail to do so are to pay a fine of N5,000,” he said.
On his part, the General Manager of PEPSA, Mr Gabriel Bako, said the major problem the agency was facing was failure by some people to deposit their waste at the collection points.
Bako said that such people were dumping refuse in the centre of the road in such a place as Terminus Market.
He said though, the agency had advised the people to place dino bin in their shops, many of them had refused to comply.
Bako said that some street sweepers in the state were punished for not properly placing refuse at the collection points.
According to him, some were sacked, while those who were ready to comply with the directive were engaged.
State Director, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Mr Larry Ineke, said operators in solid minerals were not complying with environmental laws as related to waste management.
Ineke called for a closer collaboration between the Plateau Government and NESREA in the areas of waste management and other environmental issues.
Meanwhile, the Benue Government says it spends N40 million monthly on improved sanitation in the state.
The Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Dondo Ahire, who disclosed this, also said efforts were underway to review the state’s sanitation laws.
Ahire said that his ministry was spending about N10 million monthly on payment of street sweepers, grass cutters, heavy duty machine workers and maintenance.
He also said that over N20 million was spent every month by the Benue State Environmental Sanitation Authority (BENSESA) on environmental cleanup of the state.
Ahire disclosed that the government had commenced the process of reviewing its sanitation laws to make it more punitive so as to deter people from abusing the environment.
Similarly, Mr Solomon Onah, General Manager, Benue State Environmental Sanitation Authority (BENSESA), said the agency had arrested over 500 persons in the last 12 months for various sanitation offences.
As for Kogi State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Victor Omofaiye, he said the government had adopted some measures to ensure proper waste disposal and management in the state.
Omofaiye said the government had engaged the services of private waste service providers to ensure proper waste collection in major streets, offices, and recreational centres.
He said government had also empowered and funded the Kogi State Sanitation and Waste Management Board (KGSSWMB) to aggressively tackle waste storage, collection, transportation and disposal.
Speaking on the challenges facing government and private operators in waste disposal and management, Omofaiye noted that these included the high cost of maintaining waste disposal vehicles.
He said that the cost of maintaining personnel was also high, adding that the problem of poor urban planning made it difficult for officials to easily access some dump sites.
Omofaiye stated that indiscriminate dumping of waste by residents was a great challenge as well.
The commissioner said that residential areas, markets, offices, parks and gardens were actually sources of waste generation which essentially lacked waste storage, collection and disposal facilities.
He said the sources also lacked vegetation control, adequate and proper drainage facilities, and sanitary facilities like water, toilets, and kitchen in some cases.
On rules and regulations put in place to ensure proper waste management and environmental sanitation, Omofaiye said there was an enabling law established on April 6, 2013 that required every household to have a dustbin.
He said the state had monthly environmental sanitation day, adding that the exercise was put in place to mobilise people to clean the environment and dispose their refuse.
In Nasarawa State, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Musa Abubakar Government says government has put in place measures to ensure proper waste management by providing areas for collection.
“The collection centres are residential areas. Some of the final dumping centres are at B.A.D., another one is in Anwa Rere where a Federal Government recycling project is ongoing. These are the major dumping centres,” Abubakar said.
He appealed to the Federal Government to assist the state with waste management equipment to effectively evacuate waste.
In Taraba, the Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Alhaji Ibrahim Lawal, said the government was making concerted efforts to enhance proper waste disposal.
According to Lawal, the staff of the ministry and those of the state Ministry of Urban Development regularly conducted joint operation to ensure clean environment in the city centres.
He said the ministry would intensify efforts at sensitising the public against indiscriminate waste disposal, educate them on the health implications of such actions and the need for them to participate in keeping their environment clean.
Stakeholders in sanitation and hygiene sectors in the state have called on the government to pay more attention to issues of waste disposal to enhance health of the people.
One of them, Mr Boniface Kosson, Chief Executive Officer of Youths Progressive Association in Taraba, said his organisation which was supported by USAID was working on issues of proper waste disposal in Jalingo and Zing local government areas.
Kosson noted that a lot needed to be done to change the mentality of residents about proper waste disposal for enhanced sanitation and hygienic condition of the state.
“People must be adequately sensitised on the dangers of dumping waste indiscriminately and conscious efforts must be made by the state government to provide necessary facilities at designated areas to achieve this,” he said.
Mr James Matsondi, a private waste manager, said aggressive enlightenment campaigns on waste disposal and its implications on the health of the people were needed to change people’s attitude.
Mrs Helen Douglas, a street cleaner, said government should provide necessary containers at designated areas to enable residents dump refuse in them for easy management.
Some residents of Port Harcourt and its environs have reacted to the impending flooding in parts of the country, including Rivers state.
It would be recalled that the federal government last week predicted flooding in some states in the country, including Rivers State.
A cross session of residents who spoke to The Tide on the issue said time has come for residents to be careful about the way they managed their waste, especially at this time of the year.
According to them, people must avoid blocking water channels as well as indiscriminate dumping of waste into water channels.
Speaking with The Tide, an Environmentalist, Elder Blessing Jackson Tiko, called for caution by residents of Port Harcourt and its environs
Tiko who was a former deputy operational officer Phalga Environmental Sanitation Taskforce, said people must be conscious of the way and manner that they manage their waste.
“We know that we have the rain and if you watch it is coming especially this month of July,it would rain and rain and rain
“We have to be very conscious of how we manage our environmental system, the way we throw our waste and how we evacuate it so that every where will be open for water to move freely
“Water doesn’t want blockage, water wants free flow, ’he said
Tiko urged state governments to liaise with the federal government and development agencies to dredge and open up river channels to enable Water move freely.
He particularly called on the Niger Delta Basine Development Authority and the Niger Delta Development Commission to liaise with state governments in the quest to end flooding in the states.
Also speaking, Mrs. Alice. A. Alabo a trader at Mile 3 Port Harcourt, urged the state government to do something on the constant flooding at the Abuja bypass in Mile 3 Diobu, Port Harcourt,
She said the bypass is always flooded at every little rainfalls stressing that something must be done about it.
Alabo also told The Tide Correspondents that the Abuja bypass has no receptacles and called on the management of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency to provide receptacles for the people, to ensure proper waste disposal in the area.
“The government should provide us with receptacles for us to properly place our waste which is causing the flooding in the area.
A shop owner Dickey, Livia Marko lemanted the incessant flooding along the Abuja bypass, adding that the situation is affecting their businesses.
“We have been begging the Rivers State Government and the local government to come to our aid.
“The Ego Line Progressive Union contributes N10,000 every year to make sure that we evacuate the drainage.
“We called the Hausa boys to come and clean from the beginning to the end of the tunnel which leads to the Interwoba
“So immediately after each rainfall within 10 minutes it will dry otherwise we cannot stay in our shop.
“I am begging the government to come to our rescue, even if they want to open the gutter or canal. It will help in preventing the flooding or they should clean the gutters starting from Ikwerre Road to the Interwoba axis”, he said
On his part,Mr. Ajaka Olawa, lamented that the flooding in Timber area by Abuja bypass area is so terrible that no businesses can easily be carried on in the area.
He blamed it on the continuous blockage of drainages
. “I can’t remember the last time the government came to clean the drainage, so when it rains we find it difficult to stay here.
“Some of our shops are wet because of the flooding. And if the rain falls heavily, we pack our goods. If not. they get damaged, and I am expecting this message to reach the government for them to do something about it”
“The people, the government gives the job are not being followed up, that’s why the road is still looking bad,
“The government is trying, but they should put more effort to make sure that the jobs are being carried out.
Also, Mr. Chukuma said, during the flooding along Abuja bypass by Timber, no activities take place.
He said that if rain falls, either little or heavy, none can use the road because the road will be inundated by water. Sometimes it takes two to three days for the water to dry.
According to him, eight years ago, the former governor was here to see things for himself, but nothing happened till he left office.
By: Victoria Gilbert / Ossia Victory
Following the rising impact of toxic waste in the Niger Delta communities in Nigeria, an Ecological Think Tank, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, has urged oil-producing communities in the region to monitor their environment and report incidents of pollution or other environmental hazards in real time to appropriate authorities.
The Project Manager, Communities and Culture, HOMEF, Cadmus Atake gave the advice last Friday during a Community Environmental Monitoring Training for the people of Nembe, Town-Brass in Bayelsa and Eastern Obolo, Akwa Ibom States respectively which was held in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Atake said though the extractive activities of oil companies have impacted negatively on the communities, the people still have a role to play in protecting the environment by not throwing plastics in the water bodies or engaging in activities inimical to the environment.
He said, “The purpose is to train the people on how they can monitor their environment that has been impacted by extractive activities, for them to observe the changes that occur in their environment and things they see when they go out to fish.”
Atake also harped on the need for documentation and reporting of the identified environmental challenges or pollution, saying that monitoring without reporting would be an effort in futility even as he tasked them with the accuracy, authenticity and originality of data without any mutilation.
He encouraged people to use mobile phones to take real-time photos and videos without editing the images in the case of pollution or oil spills.
His words, “Reporting is an essential aspect of any monitoring activity. It affords the opportunities to track the activity and its impacts. It makes an activity visible and draws attention to it. Also, it helps to identify associated risks and to know the required controls and learning outcomes needed to prevent the reoccurrence of failures of an activity. No monitoring exercise is complete without a report of observations and a point of action.
“You must identify what caused the pollution, state the name of the community and landmark and if possible, use GPS, time and date the pollution was observed.”
One of the participants, OmusuoDieworio from Bayelsa State noted that apart from the activities of the multinationals, the people have contributed to the disappearance of fishes in the rivers by dumping refuse and plastic wastes inside the river which posed a great threat to fishes even as he urged community leaders to promulgate laws prohibiting that and the youth leaders to ensure the enforcement.
“Our people should be sensitized on the hazards of toxic waste. We should put laws that are binding on us. Our fishermen should discipline themselves enough after drinking sachet water eating should not drop the waterproof inside the water. They should also be discouraged from using dynamite and other chemicals for fishing as all these are harmful to both the aquatic animals and human beings that will consume it.” He said.
Speaking on the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, UmoIsua-Ikoh of the Peace Pact Development Foundation, said the provision in the PIA where the community should forfeit its 3% development fund in case of pipeline vandalism criminalizes the community and should be expunged noting that no community will agree to vandalize pipeline but an individual or a criminal.
He said they should go after anyone who vandalises pipelines and not make the entire community bear the brunt of one person.
On his part, Stephen Oduware, the Program Manager at Fossil Politics, called on the communities to network with CSOs, CBOs, doctors, lawyers, media especially those from their communities and other community members who have the community at heart to advocate at all fronts.
“The community people should partner with CSOs, CBOs so that they will be able to advocate from all fronts from the health implication of this pollution from the legal and human right violations as a result of this pollution, land grabbing and then they will be able to get well-researched works from the academics, we believe that with this network they will be able to push for the justice they needed.” He said.
The Delta State Govern-
ment says it is working hard to tackle the issue of climate change in the state.
Special Adviser to the state Governor on Sustainable Development Goals) (SDGs, Lady Diana Eyo _Enoette, said this in an interview with newsmen during the launching of Green City Project in Port Harcourt.
She said the government was doing this by raising awareness on the impact of climate change in the State and also control the indiscriminate dumping of waste across the State.
Eye-Emoette said government has also setup scouts across the State to embark on tree planting campaign in all nooks and crannies of Delta State.
She said time has come for governments across the Niger Delta region to create more awareness on climate change, adding that continuous human activities in the region have made it vulnerable to climate change
Diana described her government as a leading voice on climate change as far as the Niger Delta region is concerned and stressed the need for other governments in the region to follow suit.
She said Green City’s initiatives have become a potent weapon in fighting climate change, stressing that the initiative is coming at the appropriate time.
The special advise said governments across the country should key into the green city’s projects inorder to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
Meanwhile, a university teacher, Professor Magnus Onuoha, has called for conscious efforts by governments across Africa to check carbon emissions.
The university teacher also described the green city’s initiatives as a safe avenue for emerging cities in Africa.
Prof Onuoha, who spoke via videophone described the project as innovative, adding that climate change is real and no longer fallacies.
According to him “it is glaringly telling on our faces and the possibility of it going away is not there”.
He said.
By: John Bibor
