ABUJA – The Minister of Environment, Mrs Laurentia Mallam, has decried the alarming rate of the dumping of excreta and other waste in the nation’s rivers, urging Nigerians to desist from such act.
Mallam made the call in a statement signed by Ms Josephine Lohor, the minister’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
According to the statement, the minister made the call at the opening of the 24th Annual General Meeting and National Conference of the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES) in Warri, Delta State.
The theme of conference was ` `Sustainable Use of Rivers in Nigeria’’.
She said: “The current misuse of these rivers as public dumps for domestic, municipal and industrial wastes as well as open defecation into water bodies has converted them into environmental hazards and burdens.
“With the current emphasis on greening cities and even the economy, this trend must stop and that is why I really commend you for bringing this topic to our consciousness at this time.” [eap_ad_1] She charged the conference to proffer solutions and recommendations to address the abuse of rivers in Nigeria.
She said that the Federal Government was determined to address environmental challenges as part of the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The minister assured the gathering that the bill on professionalising environment practice, which they had presented, would be passed.
“The ministry is working with the Presidency and the National Assembly to ensure that the Bill on professionalising environment practice in Nigeria which has scaled through second reading, is passed. “I will do all within my powers to work with the Presidency and the National Assembly to ensure that it is passed.
“I appreciate the participation of the association at public hearings and conferences at the National Assembly as well as the recent National Conference, in an effort to bring environmental issues to the front burner,” she said.
The minister, therefore, called for the collaboration of the association and other stakeholders in the sector to ensure environmental sustainability. (NAN)
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