Environment
More Climate Crisis, Infectious Disease Loom Unless-Dr Goni
Joel Ajayi
The Conservator-General of National Park Service NPS, Dr Ibrahim Goni, has
revealed that more crisis, human diseases loom in the country, except activities of illegal loggers into parks and forests across the country are properly checked.
He stated this on Wednesday, in Abuja, during a Press conference on the Service’s stand on illegal logging going on across Nigeria’s forests reserves.
He expressed that, danger is enormous and there is need to protect the country’s forests now, more than ever before.
According to him, the Service condemns this nefarious activities and warns that the long arms of the law will soon catch up with the perpetrators.
“We have also identified ignorance among Nigerians as one of the key factors militating against effort to fight this environmental disaster.
“The risks from illegal logging are dire; trees absorb and store carbon dioxide. If forests are cleared or even disturbed, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases which will be harmful to the environment and humans as well.
“Nigeria will be the victims of the activities of these illegal loggers if they continue unchecked.”
Dr Goni added that: “a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment is the foundation of human life. But today, because of human action, the crises of climate change are directly and severely impacting our lives and environment negatively.
“Deforestation affects us all, whether we realise it or not.
“Forests have a big influence on rainfall patterns, water, soil quality and flood prevention too. Millions of people and animals rely directly on forests for their livelihood.
“Forest loss and damage is the cause of around 10% of global warming. There’s simply no way we can fight the climate crisis if we don’t stop deforestation.
“It will lead to more infectious diseases in humans as it has been established that deforestation can be a strong driver of infectious disease transmission.
“It reduces biodiversity; the release of greenhouse gas emissions has been negatively affecting natural ecosystems and the climate.”
Speaking on the effort of the Service’ towards ensuring a safer and better parks across the country, Conservative General said: “The service is fighting hard to stop forest destruction, our environmental campaigns together with other stakeholders are starting to pay off, but there is still a lot more to do.
He sought for the support from all stakeholders, especially Nigeria media, to educate and sensitize more Nigerians on the implications. “
“We need to constantly educate and sensitise our people on the imminent dangers we can face, if we don’t stop constant deforestation.
“The effects of climate change know no boundaries, poor or rich, although the poor are likely to be affected the most.
“We have to raise the bar of sensitisation against illegal logging higher indeed; our common future depends on it.
“People know these illegal loggers and their buyers, they live among us, and they should report them to the appropriate authorities, because the evil they are covering will consume us all, if not nipped in the bud.
“This is a call to action for all well-meaning Nigerians to join in the fight of protecting our ecosystem.
“The service will arrest and prosecute anyone found involved in illegal logging in any of our national parks.”
Environment
Royal Commonwealth Society Kicks Off Clean Oceans Campaign in Nigeria
By Joel Ajayi
The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Commonwealth Games Nigeria, has officially launched the Clean Oceans Plastic Awareness Campaign in Nigeria, aiming to combat the growing threat of plastic pollution across the Commonwealth.
The campaign was flagged off on Wednesday at Jabi Lake, Abuja, with a strong message of environmental responsibility, especially for Nigeria’s youth.
The initiative is designed to raise awareness about plastic pollution, encourage proper waste disposal, and promote environmental stewardship—particularly around the country’s waterways.
Speaking at the launch, the Country Director and CEO of the Royal Commonwealth Society Nigeria, Mr. Blackson Olaseni Bayewumi, emphasized that the campaign is part of a global Commonwealth-wide effort to curb plastic waste and protect ocean ecosystems.
He highlighted the critical role of sports as a tool for engaging young people and driving meaningful change in environmental behavior.
“The Commonwealth accounts for one-third of the world’s ocean waters, and nearly half of its member countries are Small Island Developing States that suffer disproportionately from plastic pollution,” Bayewumi noted.
According to him, the Royal Commonwealth Society’s Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign aims to prevent at least one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways.
The campaign blends grassroots education with direct community action, urging people to reduce their plastic footprint, embrace alternatives, and promote cleaner oceans.
A major component of the campaign is its integration with the King’s Baton Relay—a hallmark of the build-up to the Commonwealth Games. In a groundbreaking move, the 2025-2026 relay will spotlight sustainability and environmental protection, beginning with its launch by His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day 2025. The Baton Relay is now on a 500-day journey across all Commonwealth nations and territories ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
In each country, including Nigeria, the Baton Relay will bring together youth, athletes, local communities, and environmental groups for a week of activities—most notably, organized plastic clean-up drives.
The urgency of this campaign is underlined by alarming statistics: the world produces 400 million tonnes of plastic every year, with over 12 million tonnes ending up in the oceans.
Without urgent action, scientists predict that by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the sea.
Plastic waste poses a deadly threat to marine life—suffocating birds, fish, and mammals while damaging key ecosystems.
Moreover, as plastics break down into microplastics due to ocean erosion and sunlight, they enter our food, water, and even air.
Although the full health implications of microplastics remain unknown, early research suggests they may disrupt vital bodily functions—and there is currently no method to fully remove them from the environment or our bodies.
The campaign supports multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
SDG 12: Responsible, Consumption and ProductionSDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water
It also reflects the core principles of the Commonwealth Charter, especially: Article 9: Sustainable Development. Article 10: Protection of the Environment and Article 14: Recognition of the Needs of Small States
As the world grapples with escalating environmental challenges, the Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign represents a significant step in uniting nations, communities, and young leaders under a shared mission: to protect our oceans, preserve biodiversity, and build a cleaner, safer world for future generations.
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