NEWS
Urgent Need to Halt Environmental Degradation
The attention of the world is focused on addressing environmental degradation, occasioned by several factors; foremost of which are industrialization, deforestation and other harmful human activities.
While many countries have redoubled efforts to check harmful practices to protect the environment, Nigeria is doing little or nothing.
Although Nigeria does not fall in the category of industrialised nations with heavy pollution to degrade the environment, the quantum of other human activities to degrade environment is massive.
First, the menace of indiscriminate cutting down of trees without planting of new ones and the annual primitive attitude of bush burning are greatly affecting the flora and fauna, thus, making the land bare to all sorts of vulnerabilities.
The one that is of grave concern is the encroachment of the Sahara desert on northern Nigeria. The incursion of the desert, accounts for the migration of cattle herders further south in search of water and pasture, a cause of herders and farmers crisis.Second, the massive dumping of synthetic plastics of all kinds, electronic wastes, bottles and irons (on land and water) without a defined policy for recycling poses a serious environmental hazard. All of these abuses on environment have attendant consequences like flooding because of blocked water flow channels.
Additionally, the discharge of industrial waste that are mixed with harmful chemicals and the massive dumping of synthetic materials in water bodies is negatively impacting aquatic creatures and activities.
Nigeria has a ministry of environment and other environmental agencies with responsibilities to formulate policies, synergize with other government agencies and the private sector to check environmental abuses, yet nothing tangible is being done.
Nigeria has abundant coal deposits in Kogi, Enugu and other states which can be mined and sold all over the country and beyond to replace charcoal for household cooking thereby halting the felling of trees for cooking, government employees are more concerned with driving expensive vehicles and sitting in air conditioned offices. With a defined government policy to harness the coal industry, Nigeria could have been generating huge revenue aside employment to millions of citizens.
DAILY ASSET posits that the government, partnering the private sector should adopt a combination of short, medium and long term approaches to halt the rape and abuse of the environment. The short term should start with ensuring the 774 local government areas across the country (especially rural ones) are mandated to plant not less than one million trees yearly to replenish the barren lands.
Also, international development partners and the federal government should double down on the Great Green Wall project across northern Nigeria to check desert encroachment.
There should be a combination of short and medium terms through which the states and local governments shall formulate stringent laws to establish and employ competent persons as forest guards to protect forests to safeguard the flora and fauna some of which are going into extinction because of bush burning. The guards will also check indiscriminate hunting and killing of wild animals for human consumption.
As for the long term solution, government at federal, state and local governments, shall combine forces with the private sector to invest heavily in the mining of coal with advanced technology to provide cleaner burning coal for domestic cooking as an alternative to cooking gas. Since coal generates more flame and takes longer time to burn and emit less sulphur, it will be seamlessly adopted for domestic cooking, thereby sparing the felling of trees.
Government should also prioritize public water supply for domestic and industrial uses to check indiscriminate drilling of boreholes in every home, another potential threat to the environment and humanity.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Katsina Command says it is targeting drivers who are in the habit of over loading and dangerous driving during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The state FRSC Sector Commander, Mr Aliyu Ma’aji, made this known at a news conference on Tuesday in Katsina.
Ma’aji said that the command was out to ensure zero road traffic deaths and crash-free during the festive period.
He said that the command had organised series of activities at motor parks, Mosques and Churches to enlighten motorists on the risks associated with dangerous driving and over loading.
Ma’aji also reminded prospective
passengers to always speak up against violations of traffic rules, dangerous driving and speeding by drivers in order to save their lives.
“Data indicated more passengers lost their lives than drivers during accidents,” the sector commander said.
He urged prospective passengers to always use faster channels to report road crashes and obstruction to the FRSC for possible rescuing without delay.
According to him, the command light tow truck had been strategically positioned in the event of any unforeseen eventuality.
He also announced that a mobile Court had also been set up for possible prosecution of traffic offenders on the spot.
Ma’aji, however, advised motorists to desist from mixing of goods and passengers in their vehicles, among other traffic violations. (NAN)
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has taken steps to ensure effective utilisation of the 100 operational vehicles donated to security agencies in the FCT.
Mr Adamu Gwary, Director of the Security Service Department, FCTA, stated this during the department’s end-of-year news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike had in July donated 50 operational vehicles, equipped with communication gadgets to security agencies.
On Dec. 12, the minister donated additional 50 new operational vehicles to security agencies, totalling 100 vehicles so far distributed.
Gwary, a fellow of the National Defence College, said that the vehicles were marked to ensure that the FCT Administration gets value for the support given to the security agencies.
“Just yesterday we had a meeting with a service provider, who, through the Presidency, provided a reporting platform of crime statistics format in all our police divisions.
“We looked at it beyond just getting information on crime statistics. We expanded it to cover other components of the FCT Administration’s support to security agencies.
“This will give us a platform to ensure that whatever the administration has provided, particularly vehicular assets to help security agencies to perform optimally, are equally monitored.
“We will put our eyes and ears on those vehicles because they were given to them for the purpose of improving and enhancing the security situation in the FCT,” he said.
He added that when there was a need for the vehicles to be used outside the FCT, it must be connected to security issues affecting the territory, especially cross-border crime.
As Christians around the world prepare for Christmas and new year celebrations, the director called on FCT residents to support and cooperate with security agencies.
He said, “when you see something, say something and we will do something.” (NAN)
The Nigeria Police, Gombe State Command, says it has arrested a 27-year-old man for allegedly raping a five-year-old girl in Pindiga community in Akko Local Government of the state.
ASP Buhari Abdullahi, the police’s spokesperson in the state said this on Tuesday in Gombe while parading the suspect and others.
Abdullahi said that the suspect had lured the victim to his parlour where he allegedly committed the crime.
He said that the victim was taken to the hospital for medical treatment where doctor also confirmed that she had been violated.
He said the matter was reported Dec. 15 about 8.30am against the suspect at Pingiga police station.
He said that the suspect (names withheld) had lured the 5-year-old to his home and allegedly had sexual intercourse with her.
“However, upon receipt of the complaint the above mentioned suspect was arrested.
“The victim was rushed to cottage hospital for medical treatment and for doctor’s confirmation,” he said.
Abdullahi stated that during the course of investigation, the suspect confessed to the alleged crime and would be charged to court for prosecution.
Besides, the command spokesman paraded 15 other suspects for various crimes ranging from criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, possession of counterfeit Naira notes, amongst others,
Abdullahi restated the command’s commitment to tackling crimes in the state.(NAN)
Shettima, Dangote Emerge DAILY ASSET Annual Award Winners
Share By David Torough, Abuja Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima has emerged as DAILY ASSET the Man of the Year....
Senate Wants FG to Fund Ranches, Review ECOWAS Treaty
ShareBy Eze Okechukwu, Abuja Senate yesterday called on the Federal Government to fund the establishment of modern ranches nationwide to...
FRSC Targets Over Loading, Dangerous Driving During Yuletide Travels in Katsina
ShareThe Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Katsina Command says it is targeting drivers who are in the habit of over...
FCT Recorded Drop in Kidnapping, Other Crimes in 2024, says Official
Share The Federal Capital Territory has recorded a drop in the incidents of kidnappings and other crimes across the territory...
PDP Faults Suspension of LG Chairmen in Edo
ShareEdo Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the suspension of chairmen in the 18 local governments (LG)...
FCTA to Ensure Effective Utilisation of Operational Vehicles by Security Agencies
ShareThe Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has taken steps to ensure effective utilisation of the 100 operational vehicles...
Police Arrest Man for Allegedly Raping 5-yr-old girl in Gombe
Share The Nigeria Police, Gombe State Command, says it has arrested a 27-year-old man for allegedly raping a five-year-old girl...
Saraki’s Loyalist, Abdullahi Resigns from PDP
ShareBy Mike Odiakose, Abuja A loyalist of Dr. Bukola Saraki and former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Bolaji Abdullahi,...
Osun LG Elections: PDP Harvests Over 500 APC Members
ShareBy Mike Odiakose, Abuja Ahead of the February 2025 local government election in Osun State, over 500 members of the All...
Still on State Police
ShareBy Dakuku Peterside When a policy fails to factor in public response to its benefits and drawbacks, success takes the...