FG warns against illegal waste disposal
Federal Government has warned Nigerians against illegal dumping of refuse in order to create hygienic environment.
This admonition was given by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Yusufu, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria to commemorate the 2023 National Environment Sanitation Day.
He stressed that dumping of refuse openly will negatively impact the ecosystem and impel avoidable disasters, urging Nigerians to adopt sanitation habits, including sustainable waste management.
NAN reported that theme for 2023 NESD is, ‘Promoting Sustainable Waste Management for a Healthy Environment: Stop Open Dumping’.
Yusufu explained further that the theme indicates the need for individuals, households, businesses, schools and others to have sanitary facilities and services to ensure the protection of the eco-system, aesthetic value of the environment and natural resources.
”This will also prevent odour nuisance and further transmission of sanitary related disease; promote public health and improve the quality of lives of the populace, thereby reducing poverty through environmental sustainability,” he added.
While affirming that sustainable waste management would prevent pollution of water, air and land, the permanent secretary said that this would ensure sustainable eco-system, improve resource recovery, reuse and recycling, thereby promoting circular economy in waste management.
Yusufu said it would also “prevent blockage of drainages, water pathways and flooding of communities”.
Yusuf called on Nigerians to improve on sustainable waste management, noting this would promote better health indices, including reduction in child and infant mortality rate, and other related diseases.
The permanent secretary also disclosed that the event would be marked with community sanitation and sensitisation at Kuchigoro in Abuja, and other selected communities across the country.
He explained that it is aimed at encouraging the people and governments to put in place measures for containment, collection, treatment, reuse, recycle and disposal of all wastes, thereby ensuring proper waste management and ending open dumping.
“The National Environmental Sanitation Day commemoration is to institutionalise sound environmental sanitation practice as a lifestyle amongst the populace through massive awareness creation and reward for innovative best practices in environmental sanitation.
“The provision of safe functional sanitary facilities and services in every premises for the management of waste materials (hazardous & non-hazardous) is a necessity for sustainable waste management,” he added.
Yusufu said that the focus would also be on behavioural change to attain SDG three, six, and seven on good health and well-being, access to clean water and sanitation, as well as safe management of sanitation.
“These activities are also expected to be adopted and implemented by the 36 States of the federation to commemorate the 2023 National Environmental Sanitation Day.”
Yusuf then enjoined all Nigerians to fully participate in the programme and spread the information on environmental sanitation and good hygiene practices.
NAN further reported that Nigeria began celebrating the NESD in 2005 to promote behavioural change in sanitation and hygiene practices among citizens.
