The Environmental Management Association of Nigeria(EMAN) has vowed to address environmental challenges in Nigeria.
National President of the association Professor Valerie Chinedu-Nnodu, made the disclosure during the opening ceremony of the 2021 EMAN annual national conference in Kano.
She said the conference became necessary with a view to creating awareness and sensitize the public on environmental consciousness and attitudes.
“Today in the world and in Nigeria the most frequently canvassed issues are sustainable development.
” Sustainable livelihood, environmental pollution, renewable energy, environmental governance, national security, climate change and Covid-19″
Chinedu-Nnodu maintained that the conference advocates a multidisciplinary approach involving all stakeholders to be committed to an improved environment for the present and future generations.
In a Remark the Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, represented by the Commissioner for Enviroment said the state government will partner with EMAN, towards preventing and ameliorating the various environmental predicaments faced within the state and country at large.
He noted that government had recruited 1,000 sanitation vanguards to ensure strict compliance to environmental laws.
“we have keyed into the National Great Green Walls (NGGW) project, funds and lands were provided for establishment of community tree nurseries and plantations”,
The Governor noted that massive desilting has been embarked upon to address major and minor drainages in the state to prevent flood.
“We have provided the sum of N500 million counterpart funds as well as office complex for the state project management unit (SPMU)” On Erosion control, water washed management, tree planting,capacity building, livelihood enhancement”
He commended EMAN for organizing the conference, urging them to probe into different environmental challenges facing each geo-political zone of the country and provide solutions.
Earlier, Professor Edwin Osawe-Iguisi, in his keynote address said Nigerian Environment is currently experiencing widespread degradation due to deforestation, mining activities, urbanization and unwholesome agriculture.
“The country is experiencing high rate of desertification 35 per cent in 11 states over the past 50 years”
Osawe-Iguisi further explained that Nigeria environment is challenged by the various ways the environment is used due to laid down rules and regulations.
According to him, pollution and waste are the growing issues for Nigeria, as air pollution affected 11,200 lives in 2018 with the country generating 63 millions tonnes of waste annually.
“Only 30 and 50 per cent of waste is collected with the rest randomly disposed. Nigeria has the highest level of plastic production in Africa and rapidly e-waste problem”
Abdullahi Jalaludeen