…Calls for collective care of environment
Nigerians have been cautioned on their poor habit of plastic waste disposal, so as to avoid degradation of the environment and other adverse effects on the people and society as a whole. The charge was given recently by speakers at a seminar to mark the World Environment Day, with the theme, “Solution to Plastic Pollution”, organised by Caritas Nigeria, also known as Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN). Speaking on the state of the environment, Rev. Fr. Uche Obodoechina, Executive Secretary of Caritas Nigeria, said environmental degradation has caused a lot of harm to the society, therefore the need to further sensitise the public on the adverse effect of their poor habit on the environment. Noting that when people litter the environment with plastic and other waste products, Fr. Obodoechina said they should have some level of awareness about the effects of their activities on their lives and that of others in the environment. On the theme, he disclosed that Caritas Nigeria is responding to the call of the Holy Father, Pope Francis’ 2015 ‘Laudato si’ document that specified the responsibilities of individual persons, communities and government to see that the environment becomes a habitable home. “Looking at our experience in Nigeria where we are always using plastics like sachet and bottled water, which are dangerous to the environment, there is need for all to come together, think together, work together and brainstorm to see how best to manage the place of plastics in human lives.
“It’s not going to be easy to say we do not need these plastics at all, but if we use them, how do we use them, and how do we begin to make our lives better without using much of them to save the environment from the hazards that come with them?” Dr. Emmanuel Okechukwu, Head of Environment Unit, Caritas Nigeria disclosed that the interest of the Environment Unit is hinged on waste management and helping the public manage plastic waste, which has become an environmental threat to the country. Disclosing that the advocacy started with a community survey on plastic waste management in Durumi streets, markets and motor parks Okechukwu stated that the next step, a call on government and community leaders to support the people by providing waste bins at strategic locations to aid proper disposal of waste products. Dr. Paschal Onu, Associate Environment Unit, noted that the dangers of plastic waste to the environment cannot be overemphasised as it is the concern of every single person. He said though people are aware of the dangers of plastic waste to the environment, their effort in curbing it is not encouraging, even as he disclosed that part of their recommendations to the government on World Environment Day will be to provide waste bins at strategic locations in communities, to aid proper disposal of waste. The World Environment Day which is the largest global public platform for environmental public health outreach, is globally observed on June 5 annually since 1973, and it is led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), to encourage and create awareness and action towards the protection of the environment.
