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World Endangered Species Day: Grassroots awareness necessary – Don

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World Endangered Species Day: Grassroots awareness necessary – Do
 Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof. Nasiru Idris, says awareness at the local level will help save wildlife endangered species.
Idris said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja on the backdrop of the World Endangered Species Day Celebrations.
Endangered Species Day is observed on the third Friday of May every year to spread awareness about the importance of protecting endangered species, their habitats and to take actions necessary to protect them.
He said that taking the message of preservation of wildlife to the grassroots is necessary because some of them do not understand the implications of the endangered species going into extinction.
“Nigerians should participate, especially in our rural areas where most people’s livelihood depend on natural resources, including the endangered species.
“The message of the protection and conservation of these endangered species should therefore mostly go to them as their daily activities threaten the existence of the species’’.
According to him, `this day is set aside in order to remind people and give them an opportunity to learn more about the role of protecting endangered species within their own territory.
“This is very important because, if you look at the level of extinction of endangered species today, you will discover that it is seriously alarming.
“Nigeria in the past had different varieties of endangered species but today, you hardly hear of, or see, those kinds of species unless you visit zoos.
“Do we even have an active zoo in this country?’’ he queried, adding that if we do, it will serve as an avenue for government revenue generation and also improve tourism in the country.
“Therefore, setting aside this day for these species will help in directing our thoughts towards protecting them,’’ he said.
The Don also advised that the awareness campaign should not leave the school children behind as they are the ones to protect the environment in the future.
“This message should be taken to the school children in order to catch them young. As leaders of tomorrow they should grow with the consciousness of protecting the wildlife, humans and the environment’’.
He also called on religious leaders to join other stakeholders in the race to save these species.
“Religious leaders should also play their role during sermons in both Mosques and churches, on the importance of protecting endangered species,’’ he added.
NAN
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Environment

Akwa Ibom emerges Nigeria’s cleanest state for 4th times

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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.

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