As the world marks this year’s World Environment Day, a call has gone to the three tiers of government to initiate, strengthen, and sustain enlightenment campaigns against indiscriminate disposal of plastic wastes
The call was made by Dr. Ibinabo Ogolo, a Research Fellow at the Institute of Geosciences and Environmental Management, Rivers State University, during a chat with newsmen to mark this year’s World Environment Day in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Ogolo noted that the bane of policy Implementations over the years has been the lack of adequate enlightenment to enable citizens to do the needful.
She noted that if governments deploy the necessary tools using their various platforms, most of the challenges associated with indiscriminate and improper waste disposal habits would have been reduced to the bearest minimum
Drawing from the theme of this year’s celebration, which is “Beat Plastic Pollution,” aimed at raising global awareness about the harmful imparts of plastic wastes on ecosystems, wildlife and human health, Dr. Ogolo said governments at all levels in Nigeria have no reason to lack behind on this campaign.
She noted that plastic wastes are very hazardous, especially those from industry or medical sources, which often contain toxic chemicals that are carcinogenic.
Moreover, she observed that additives from the plastics released into the environment contaminate the ecosystem and harm wildlife.
The Research Fellow further lamented that the hazardous nature of plastic wastes can lead to breast, ovarian, liver, lung and other hormonal cancers and hence the need for urgent and sustained enlightenment campaigns on what citizens should do about plastic wastes with the aim of reducing those diseases in the society.
She said it was regrettable that inspite of the fact that the issue of global plastic pollution has been on the radar of scientists for roughly 50 years, since it was first noticed in the ocean, nothing much has been done to protect our rivers, creeks and riverlets from the harmful invasion of plastic wastes.
Dr. Ogolo concluded by urging governments at all levels not to see the world environment day celebrated every June 5 as a mere ritual but should develop a framework to ensure that these campaigns are sustained to ensure better livelihood for the people.
