By Chidinma Agu
Lagos – Dr Odigha Odigha, National Coordinator, Coalition of NGOs, on Monday in Lagos called on government at all levels to be sensitive to environmental challenges.
Odigha, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that governments ought to be proactive on issues concerning the environment.
He said that by being sensitive to environmental challenges, Nigeria would be able to reduce the effect of Climate Change on the people.
“Global environmental issue such as climate change is real, we must make effort to reduce its effect on the country.
“The current heatwave nationwide has never been so, this should be taken seriously and actions taken to mitigate the situation,” he said.
Odigha said that Nigerians should be made to understand the issues of deforestation and desertification.
“Nigerians should be made to support and encourage activities that will protect the environment.
“People should engage in trees planting within and around their houses and neighborhoods, they must stop cutting down trees without appropriate permission,” he said.
According to Odigha, environmental agencies and government departments should be proactive in attending to the issues that degrade the environment.
“A new dispensation is due from May 29, as a coalition, we will want the government to take issues concerning the environment more seriously,” he said.