The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and Clean – UP Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has listed 10 among the 36 states of the federation as the dirtiest in the country.
The report published by UNEP listed the dirtiest states in the country as Abia, Lagos, Kogi, Anambra, Kano, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Yobe and Ogun State.
According to the report by the global body, there is dearth of proper waste management in the listed states adding that this contribute high level of pollution in the states.
However, checks revealed that the governments of all the 10 listed states has procured waste lifting vans, waste disposl bins, some introduced weekly or monthly compulsory environmental sanitation programme, among others, to protect the environment.
Successive administration in thes listed states, particularly Lagos, provided proper waste control strategies and mechanism, but the high level of population in Lagos has been the challenge of keeping the city clean.
About the dirty level of the state capital, Osogbo, in December 2023, a civil society organisation, Transparency Action Group (TAG), rated Osogbo, the capital of Osun State as the dirtiest in the country.
In a statement signed by TAG spokesman, Ayo Ologun, noted that the present government in Osun State paid less attention to the beautification of the city, allowing it to be taken over by dirt.
Plateau State is experiences strange environmental challenges – Env. Commissioner
Plateau State Commissioner for the Environment, Solid Minerals and Climate Change, Peter Gwom, has said the state is experiencing some environmental challenges noting that there is need for collective efforts to address the challenges of global warming.
According to the commissioner, following a very strange environment issue in Foron community of Barkin-Ladi Local Government and the state government intervention, it was discovered that what people referred to as earthquake is earth tremor.
He said as assessment had been carried out and reports have since been filed for further action. He added that aside the environmental issue in Barkin-Ladi, there was a similar issue in Bokkos including a landslide around Shere hills in Jos East Local Government Area of the state.
His words: ” We haven’t experienced the kind of heat we had in June this year for a very long time. Despite the rainfall, the weather remained hot and at that time of the year when we supposed to be wearing jackets.
”The growing impact of climate change in this once cold city of Jos are evident in the kin of heat experienced this year amidst the rainy season.”
Experts were of the view that mining activities over the years in the state including years of indiscriminate felling of trees, without replacement responsible for the current strange environmental issues in the state.
Sand dunes forces residents to flee homes in Yobe, desertification intensify
Sand dunes caused by desertification in Yobe State has forced several communities to flee their homes i the Yusufari Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Reports gathered shows that dunes has taken over lands and houses in the affected communities in the state, rendering the areas not habitable not only for humans but including animals.
According to the chairperson of the local government area, Baba Aji, desertification has driven many people out of their ancestral land adding that these people are now taking shelter in Kaska village.
Highlighing the impact of desertification in that part of the country, Baba Aji said if people visit the affected villages in the local government area, they will see the dunes still advncing closer to houses.
”This situation forced some of the residents to migrate to Nguru town. Other areas affected by the sand dunes are Tulo-Tulo and Bula-Tura, two towns bordering neighbouring Niger Republic. Our people are facing danger of extinction,” he said.
Baba Aji exoressed concern that the dunes would soon encroach on an oasis known to be a criticalwater source in the area unless necessary urgent measures were taken to halt the environmental challenge
Lagos residents turn to waterways as alternative to congested road traffic
Lack of road expansion in the Lagos, the land of aquatic splendour and flooding of the insufficient road network in the city of Lagos during rainy season has pushed residents of riverside parts of the former capital of Nigeria to embrace waterways transportation.
Surrounded by the lagoon and the Atlantic 0cean, Lagos, Nigeria’s economic nerve has fully embraced water transportation to help tackle carbon-emissions.
Most of the residents in the state lives on Lagos Mainland such as the Ikorodu and Badagry axis of the citystate with over 20 million population. A lot of offices and businesses in Lagos were located on the island areas surrounded by the lagoon.
Hundreds of thousands residents in the state who lives in mainland parts of the state are now going to their working and business places everyday going by boat on the lagoon while going and returning from work. The state government has also thought of introducing a fleet of electric powered boats and ferries to encourage more people to take to water transportation as a green transport solution.
A resident in Ikorodu, Mrs. Motunrayo Bamidele, who ply her trade in Lagos Island says her daily 30 minutes commute from Ikorodu ferry terminal has changed her life for the better as she didn’t wake up around 4am as she ws used to do in the past because of regular traffic on Lagos roads.
”The journey on Lagos roads from Ikorodu to Lagos Island which sometimes take me about three hours by road is now being done within 30 minutes,” she said.
Flood victims in Bauchi begs for food and water to live
Victims of the recent flood which swept through Buskuri Community in Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State have appealed to the federal and their state government including charity organisations to come to their aid as they lack food to eat and good water to drink.
The recent flood in the community has left a trail of destruction, claiming hectares of farmlands domestic animals and residential buildings. Members of the community, which has never witnessed such magnitude of destruction, are now grappling with the aftermath.
The flood which caused collapse of several buildings in the community and its environs, also led to the collapsed of wells and the water in the area contaminated. This has led to spread of waterborne diseases in the area.
The traditional ruler of the area, Malam Gambo Abubakar, calls for assistance from both the federal and state governments, saying, ”My subjects have lost everything. We need help to rebuild not just our homes but our lives.”