By Bisola Adeyemo
Engr. Osilama Braimah, Director of Abuja Environmental Protection Board, (AEPB), has said the board will continue to protect the environment from waste pollution, to maintain clean environment.
This he said in a statement coming from his office on Saturday, as the board prepares for the commemoration of the World Environment Day, Sunday, June 5.
This year’s theme ‘only one earth,’ is a wake-up call to every one and presents the opportunity to quickly realize that a healthy planet is crucial for collective prosperity.
“We must embrace the joint responsibility of preserving the earth, the only environment where humans can thrive” the director said.
Speaking on measures taken in the board to tackle the pollution and waste challenges, the Director, said: “regarding waste management in the FCT, our focus had always been waste reduction, and to that end, we are putting in place, waste transfer stations in Apo-Gudu, Mpape, and Kubwa in the FCT. These transfer stations will help reduce the amount of waste materials going to our land fill site.
“We hope to achieve 30 percent waste reduction, to greatly increase the lifespan of our dumpsite in Goza.”
While revealing the additional measure taken to address the problem of pollution in the territory, Engr. Braimah, revealed that the use of water resources in a sustainable manner is crucial.
“We treat sewage at the Wupa Sewage treatment plant, which is a million population equivalent, and we also have small aerators in Guzape, Katampe, and Apo-Gudu districts of the FCT.
“These are small waste treatment plants for about 20,000 Population equivalent, and they, make it possible to ensure that polluted water is not discharged into the environment, we treat before discharge,” he quipped.
“We must place true value on the environment and go beyond Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a measure of human progress and well-being. This is the time to shift to a circular and regenerative economy.
“Debates had also been organized for school children to catch them young so that they become advocates for a clean and healthy environment from a tender age. The clean-up of the Jabi lake is another symbolic exercise and many more interesting activities have been planned for the day,” he stated.