Environment
Akwa Ibom emerges Nigeria’s cleanest state for 4th times
Joel Ajayi
Akwa-Ibom state, one of the states in the south-south geopolitical zone, for the 4th consecutive time has emerged the cleanest state in the country followed by Ebonyi and Bauchi states respectively.
The Land of Promise state emerged Cleanest State for the year 2022 in Nigeria, with a cumulative score of 62% and the 2nd and 3rd States (Ebonyi 45% and Bauchi 44%)
The international Non-governmental organization known as the Clean-Up Nigeria CUN revealed that Performance indicators from the December 2021 to November 2022 studies Akwa ibom polled 54% to emerge the winner.
Also the reports showed that over 176.3million Nigerians are living in an unclean environment.
Speaking at the briefing in Abuja while presenting the clean-up Report the founder of Clean-up Nigeria Prince Ene Baba Owoh Jr. MON restated that there is a need to encourage alternative actions on personal hygiene/sanitation in order to ensure a cleaner, healthier and safer Nigeria for all and in the end make the world a better place to live.
According to him, 32 out of 36 States including the rest of FCT outside of Abuja City by our statistical study are rated as unclean States.
“Performance indicators from our studies show that over 176.3million Nigerians in 2022 are living in unclean environments, compared to 172 million in 2021.
“There has been no increase in the number of States with sanitary Landfills beside Lagos, Oyo, Abuja and Bauchi while the remaining 34 States operate open dumping. This development is not only alarming but clearly indicates lack of seriousness by governments at levels to key into the global best practices of waste modernization with related benefits.
“As our graphic chart statistics on monitoring/evaluation of the States have shown only 7 States (Akwa Ibom, Abuja, Cross River, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Lagos and Kaduna) who scored above 10% out of the 30% on the streets/roads cleanliness indicators have clean Roads in the country.
“It is imperative to know that the year 2022 study has the input of 70% satellite monitoring with the applied performance indicators early stated to score across board the ratings of States/Cities on their Cleanliness Performance.
“As our graphic chart statistics on monitoring/evaluation of the States have shown only 7 States (Akwa Ibom, Abuja, Cross River, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Lagos and Kaduna) who scored above 10% out of the 30% on the streets/roads cleanliness indicators have clean roads in the country.
“On personal hygiene and sanitation only four States (Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Cross River and Abuja City) scored above 4% of the 15% and can be said to come close to possession of good personal hygiene/sanitation practices in the country.
In his remark after receiving the Second best state Commissioner, Ebonyi State Ministry of Environment who also doubles as the Commissioner for Grant and Donor Agencies, Hon (Dr) Richard Nnabu appreciated the clean-up Nigeria for the diligent work that will take Nigeria to better heights.
He called on the government at all levels not to relent in creating awareness to the general public to make our environment a better and safer place for all.
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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