Environment

FG tasks Kurudu residents to sustain reclamation of gully erosion projects in ravaged sites

Published

6 years ago

April 17, 2019

The Federal Government has urged the residents of Kurudu, (Phase 1), in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure the maintenance and sustainability of the evacuation and reclamation of gully erosion ravaged sites.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ecological Funds Office(EFO), Dr Habiba Lawal, gave the charge during the inauguration of the project after its completion on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to her, the projects were initiated in response to requests for urgent intervention forwarded to the EFO by the Chairman of AMAC and the Army Post Service Housing Residents Association.

“The projects will arrest the continuous erosion menace, improve the access road as well as remove the eyesore caused by heaps of solid waste and also to avoid further environmental pollution.

“The hand over will enable the estate take over and exercise ownership of the projects to ensure its maintenance and sustainability”.

Lawal urged the residents to ensure that the resources which the Federal government has committed to the projects are sustained.

“We are using this opportunity to request that the cleared dump sites be used for development activities and not left vacant, to avoid further indiscriminate dumping of waste,” she added.

While handing over the project executed by the Ecological Funds Office (EFO) to the people of the community, the Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, also inaugurated the Gully Erosion Control and Road Improvement Works at the Post Service Estate, Phase 5 Road, also at Kurudu.

Adebayo said the projects were expected to check flooding, gully erosion menace and improve environmental hygiene and well-being of the people of the estate and its environs.

“The projects are among the Federal Government’s ecological intervention projects for the 4th quarter of 2017 and the 2nd quarter of 2018 as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said that the execution of ecological intervention projects across the country had demonstrated the sincerity of purpose of President Buhari’s administration in its efforts to promote justice, equity and fair play in the country.

“The project would address and control some of the challenges of flooding and erosion facing the people of the area.

“The Federal Government’s intervention projects are, therefore, intended to bring relief to the community, while reducing danger to lives and property, associated with erosion and persistent flooding,’’ he said.

He said the project underscored the Federal Government’s concerted efforts and sincerity in tackling environmental problems and making life more meaningful for the people.

News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the Federal Government also established an integrated solid waste management facility including auxilliary works in the area.

Maj. Gen. Mahe Bashir, the Chief Executive Officer of Post Service Housing Development Ltd said that because of the projects, the estate has begun to witness an influx of tenants.

“We thank the Federal Government for this project, while we still pray for more to come our way soon,”he added.

Mr Ezra Gomna, the District Head of Kurudu prayed to God to bless the present administration for coming to the rescue of the community.

“I really thank God for allowing the completion of this project and we appreciate the Federal Government’s efforts because this is what we have been hoping will come to fruition for a long time now”.(NAN)

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Environment

Royal Commonwealth Society Kicks Off Clean Oceans Campaign in Nigeria

Published

3 months ago

July 8, 2025

The Gleamer

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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