Otu Tasks Stakeholders On Modelling C'River Environmental Stewardship Globally ... Marks World Environment Day', 2025 .
Hannah ARIKPO
Cross River state Governor, Senator, Prince Bassey Edet Otu has called on Stakeholders to support the state's quest to become a Modell for environmental stewardship in Nigeria and in the diaspora.
Otu who gave the charge in an address to mark the '2025, World Environment Day' celebrations with the theme: Ending Plastic Pollution Globally" held at the Transcorp hotel Calabar, stressed the need for the public to view the celebration of the Day as the beginning of a new era of responsibility, innovation and unity against the scourge of plastic pollution.
The Governor whose address was read by the state Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Moses Osogi, announced that the present administration was taking critical steps towards reviewing existing environmental regulations to strengthen enforcement against illegal dumping and open burning of plastic waste as well as promoting adoption of alternative, eco-friendly materials in markets and public institutions.
Other achievements in the fight against plastic pollution was government investment in recycling plants for sustainable waste management in partnership with the private sector, launching of community-based campaign in all eighteen local government areas of the state as well as support to youth-led green innovations and local enterprises that convert waste into wealth.
"The menace of plastic pollution has resulted in increased flooding, soil degradation, public health risks including defacement of our urban and rural landscapes. Since government efforts alone are not enough, we need households to separate their waste, schools to educate children about sustainability, market traders, civil servants, transport operators and religious institutions to become automatic champions in the fight against plastic pollution", He admonished.
A University Don at the University of Calabar, Dr. Eyo Orok Edet, in a keynote address sub- theme, "Rainforest to River banks, Ending plastic pollution in Cross River" highlighted the urgent need to confront the escalating plastic pandemic which endangers both forest biodiversity and riverine livelihood, explaining that, the state's Ministry of Environment monthly sanitation exercise was a deliberate strategy to join global efforts to stop plastic pollution and keep the environment safe.
"Cross River state coastal areas are easily contaminated with plastic waste contributing to ocean plastic pollution which discharges between twenty thousand to ninety thousand tonnes of plastic into the Atlantic Ocean annually. Enforcement of monthly statewide sanitation is to help keep our environment safe. The environment is everything, if the environment is not healthy, we will not be healthy", Edet cautioned.
In a paper titled, "Harmful Effects of Styrofoam" the Director, Ecology and Biodiversity, Ministry of Environment, Calabar, Mr Sonigitu Ekpe identified Styrofoam as a key contributor to plastic pollution which harms the health of both humans and animals and called on the public to support the bill on "Environmental pollution" before the state House of Assembly for a Styrofoam free Cross River after its passage into law.
"Styrofoam poses a serious health risk to the public. For instance, dump sites are not expected to be located near residential areas like the Lemma dump site in Calabar. It accounts for different types of Cancers affects menstrual flow in women", Ekpe emphasised.
