ROADMAP TO ACHIEVING CLEAN AIR IN DELTA STATE: COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY PROJECT IN COMMEMORATION OF 2022 INTERNATIONAL CLEAN AIR DAY
ROADMAP TO ACHIEVING CLEAN AIR IN DELTA STATE: COMMUNIQUE
ISSUED AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY PROJECT IN COMMEMORATION OF 2022 INTERNATIONAL
CLEAN AIR DAY
PREAMBLE
Mega Impact Foundation in partnership
with Urban Movement Innovation Fund, UK hosted her 2022 International Clean Air
Day commemorative projects themed “Pedal
To Cleaner Air” the two phased project was designed to establish and
maximize synergies between the Government, Stakeholders and the public in the
hope of starting a mind re-engineering process that will ensure implementation
of the nations-set agenda in committing to UN’s set policies of achieving
cleaner air and healthier environment by 2030. The two-day initiative began
with a “Breakfast & A Clean Air Conversation” at the prestigious Nelson
Mandela Park of 95 Trees, Asaba, Delta State that brought together major
stakeholders to develop an approach, solutions and roadmap to integrate climate
change actions to compliment Delta State Government’s efforts at improving its
plan at implementing emission reduction, structural and systemic human behavioral
changes in the hope of achieving its Sustainable Development Goal on creating a
Greener Delta State by 2030.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Newton
Jibunoh, Africa’s renowned environmentalist, humanist and Founder, FADE
Foundation whose success story is remarkably astonishing and it is a feta which
has been experienced, applauded and awarded across the globe. He spoke at
length about his over 50 years’ experience and journey of ensuring the world
understands the message of saving Mother Earth.
The breakfast meeting was attended by
major stakeholders which included the representatives of the Commissioners of Delta
States’ Ministries of Urban Renewal, Health, Transport and Energy, other
participants including the Delta State Director, National Orientation Agency,
CSO’s and the Press. The 3 hours breakfast and brainstorming session gave the
opportunity for all participants to identify challenges and proffer solutions
to issues as it concerns reducing carbon emission in our environment, their
role as agencies and MDA’s and how to engage the government in the hope of
ensuring a healthier population in Delta State and Nigeria at large.
The second phase of the project was
our cycling road-show in partnership with the Delta State Cycling Association,
the event hosted in Agbor, Delta State was a first of its kind advocacy on
propagating the multi-faceted benefits of riding bicycles. Riders from the Association
and the Mega Impact Foundation team hosted a road show amidst fun fare through
major streets of Agbor starting from the Stadium sensitizing people on the
reason why they need to embrace the act of riding a bicycle.
Riding to work or the shops according
to the Head Coach, Delta State Cycling Association, Mr. Kingsley is one of the
most efficient ways to combine regular exercises with your everyday routine,
cycling is mainly an aerobic activity, which means that your heart, blood
vessels, muscles and lungs all get a workout, it helps you breath deeper,
perspire and experience increased body temperature which will improve your
overall mental, physical and emotional fitness levels.
OBSERVATIONS
The participants observed that:
1. The lackadaisical attitude of the
Government towards systematically reducing the strain on our environment caused
by the increase in carbon emission, landfills which are highly polluted and
emit poisonous gases, mismanagement of resources, implementing policies and
enforcing sanctions are some of the major challenges facing ensuring cleaner air in Nigeria
2. Environmental protection techniques
should be indigenized taking into cognizance the deferent ecological zone in
the country.
3. Lack of adequate environmental
research institutions, and the mismanagement of of existing ones.
4. Lack of effective and strategic
monitoring and evaluation programs and tools to checkmate the excessiveness of
Manufacturing companies, Oil companies that engage in Gas flaring and waste
disposal.
5. Artificial financial constraints
resulting from State governments not utilizing available funds meant for
environmental conservation. For instance, some states in Nigeria have refused
to claim counterpart funds made available by the Federal government provided
for the environment.
6. Use of persons in disciplines
outside their areas of competence; insufficient competent and committed
environmentalists and poor condition of service for them leading to low quality
environmental development impacts.
8. Lack of mass environmental
advocacy, sensitization and education
9. Excess bureaucratic bottlenecks in
the environmental commissions.
10. Inadequate research capacity
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Participants at the workshop
recommended the following:
1. Government
should ensure harmonizing the role of Quality Assurance and inspecting agencies
for effective and consistent monitoring and evaluation of educational
activities in the communities.
2. CSO’s
and government agencies drive a Social/behavioural change in the communities
they operate in hope of encouraging people to embrace the act of keeping their
environment clean and healthy.
3. CSOs should partner and encourage
communities to demand accountability from relevant authorities.
5. Government should through the
Ministries of education include environmental education as a curriculum in
schools especially at beginner’s level
6. Government should fund
environmental initiatives and support small scale business involved in
providing solutions to the environmental challenges faced in the country.
7. Government should engage all mass
communication channels to continually sensitize and enlighten the public on the
multi-faceted benefits of keeping a healthy environment.
8. Government should work in collaboration
with the Ministry of work, Ministry of Urban Renewal to build roads safe enough
to encourage people to imbibe the act of riding bicycle to ensure reduction in
carbon emission and raise a healthier population.
9. Environmental regulatory bodies
should be overhauled for proper monitoring of the system. In particular people
education should be drastically improved and performance monitored.
10. Environmental faculties in
tertiary institutions should not be considered dumping ground for unqualified
and incompetent students who could not gain admission into other faculties.
13. Continuous sensitization using
NGOs, Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations to creatively contextualize
and make environmental education acceptable within the communities.
1. Dr. Newton Jibunoh
Founder, FADE AFRICA
2. Okezie Odugala
Executive Director, Eziodu Initiative
for Sustainable Environmental Development
3. Tpl. Okore
Director of Urban Renewal, Delta State
Ministry of Urban Renewal
4. Agboro Harrison
Executive Director, Greensphere
Initiatives
5. Chris Anyabuine
State Director, National Orientation
Agency (NOA)
Comments
Post a Comment