The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has? urged Nigerians to ensure proper disposal? of? wastes? in order to check flooding? during the rainy season.
NESREA’s South West Zonal Director, Mr Olufunbi Sode, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Monday that the heavy flooding predicted?? could be mitigated through proactive measures.
He appealed to residents? to discharge wastes at designated receptacles, adding that? indiscriminate dumping of refuse was? a violation of environmental? laws.
“It is an abuse of environmental regulations for any of us to indiscriminately dump refuse anywhere available, especially drains, as this directly assists flooding.
“This is why we continuously organise? awareness campaigns to sensitise the public on the need to imbibe good environmental practices.
“Industries, motor parks, market squares and institutes are educated to conduct their businesses in a way that will protect the environment for generations unborn,’’ Sode said.
He said talks were on with the state Ministry of? Environment and Habitat on the need to boost? awareness on the consequences of unhygienic practices.
Sode also said government? would demolish? illegal structures which? violate town planning guidelines,? especially those erected on? water courses.
He said? since most of the wastes generated in the country? were vegetative, they could be turned to compost and used as? manure.
“NESREA has initiated practical demonstrations to let Nigerians know how they could make good use of their wastes instead of dumping them indiscriminately.
“In the modern world, effective waste management is not possible without waste segregation and recycling, as plastics, metals and? paper can be reprocessed to make other materials,’’ Sode said.
He added that there was need to develop a positive attitude toward? upholding environmental protection laws? if man-made disasters were to be checked.
“Environmental protection is not only government’s responsibility. It is through a collective effort that we can achieve a sustainable environment that is? friendly? to? all.
“However, the most important thing for now is for us to change our attitude with respect to waste management.
“Only when we do this can we be confident that flooding? as caused by environmental abuse? would eventually become a thing of the past,’’ Sode said.