Gloria Akudoro, Abuja
The Director General, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Dr. Muhtari Aminu Kano, has called for a collective co-operation and urgent response to the alarming effects of environmental degradation in the country.
According to him, the only planet which supports life is deeply confronted with severe environmental problems capable of causing disasters and tragedies now and in the future.
The DG NCF stated this at the World Environmental Day Symposium organised by the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES) to commemorate the day yesterday in Abuja with the theme “Only One Earth.”
The World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated annually on June 5, to encourage awareness and action for the protection of the environment. It was first celebrated 50 years ago (1972) and has since been a platform for raising awareness on the earth crisis.
Dr. Aminu-Kano who’s ably represented by the Zonal Coordinator, NCF, Mr Mohammed Garba Boyi, attributed these earth challenges to natural and man-made activities posing tremendous danger to the environment.
He said nature is seriously declining at an unprecedented rate which requires urgent attention and action towards saving mother earth from major environmental crises.
“The planet is warming up and it is high time humans take a step in the right direction towards saving the earth from major environmental issues. And if ignored today, these I’ll effects are sure to curb human existence in the near future,” he stressed.
On statistical data on the effects of pollution causing millions of premature deaths, the DG disclosed that about 1/3 of all rivers in Latin America, Africa and Asia suffer from severe pollution. Adding that about 50 millions tons of e-waste are thrown away every year which amount to the weight of all commercial airliners ever made.
“Nature is an asset and we are eating into it faster than it can generate, it is declining at an unprecedented rate. Over 1 million out of 7.8 species face extinction while humans account for 70 percent of the territorial surface and 66 percent of marine areas,” he stated.
To curb these universal crisis that has eating deep into mother earth, Dr. Amini-Kano urged for attitudinal change on how we perceive environment, embark on restoring biodiversity and nature to making the earth a better place for living and bring about robust economic benefits, job creation and attract business opportunities that could generate USD3.6 trillion additional revenues by 2030.
He also added that the need to initiate a framework that prevents harmful chemicals from penetrating the environment while striving to move the country and businesses towards effective, safe and green alternatives just as the nation successfully moved away from substances that deplete the ozone layer.
The DG however noted that the NCF is currently partnering with government agencies and local stakeholders to raise awareness and promote sustainable use of the environment. NCF has recently launched Green Recovery Nigeria and is conducting interventions which will contribute to revive not less than 20 percent Nigeria’s forest cover by 2030.
Meanwhile, in her welcome address, the immediate past President, Nigerian Environmental Society (NES) appreciated the invited guest from diverse stakeholders and noted that the essence of this meeting is to focus on the climate crisis and how it can be mitigated.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Caretaker Committee/Interim President, NES and the convener of the event, Mr Victor Imevbore, said the symposium is to create awareness and let the people be aware of the earth’s challenges and know it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep it safe.
He said this occasion is celebrated nationally and NES has across the federation 28 chapters sensitising the people at the grassroot level. He however urged sons and sundry to join in the movement of combating the environmental crisis and saving the planet.