By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
As the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, commemorates the 2022 World Earth Day, today in Abuja, the Administration pledged commitment to protecting the environment as a responsibility in ensuring that the earth serves all that depends on it for live and livelihood.
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, at the event today in Abuja urged the education sector to ensure that environmental subjects are taught in schools from foundation classes.
The minister who was represented by the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, also called on community based organisations to be fully involved in spreading the message and taking positive actions to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
Aliyu, described as heartwarming and encouraging the resolutions reached at the World Climate Change Conference and the joint commitment by majority of nations to keep faith with efforts of protecting the environment.
The minister decried instances where human activities such as overconsumption, population growth and technology, the biophysical environment is being degraded causing adverse and extreme weather phenomena such as flooding, heatwaves, hurricanes, typhoons and desertification.
“The consequences of these have adversely affected the lives and livelihood of millions around the world and resulted to drought, famine, and forced migration, which has led to clashes amongst communities and even an increase in diseases caused by the consumption of foods from contaminated farmlands, rivers, oceans and even meat and livestock.”
The minister also called for collective and sustained efforts of all, stressing that mass mobilization and awareness campaigns should be stepped up to galvanize the public into taking positive actions against the dangers facing mankind due to the degradation of the environment.
FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, who was represented by the Director Operation, Planning and Strategy, Mr. Atang Samuel, noted that the occasion has provided the global community a sense of shared responsibility and a common goal to protect the earth, the source of livelihood.
He said, ” the significance of commemorating the World Earth Day cannot be over emphasized. For over forty years, the Earth Day has provided us with a sense of shared responsibility and a common goal to protect the Earth which has our environment, our source of livelihood and our one and only home.”
The Permanent Secretary noted that in the quest for economic growth and development, people have engaged in activities that are inimical to the Earth, which are responsible for the complete disappearance of some species and the acceleration of the climate change.
He noted that the good news is that governments around the world are making serious effort in reducing carbon footprint by regenerating the environment through various initiatives such as planting of trees, introduction of policies aimed at achieving cleaner rivers and skies and reducing global warming.
‘We at the FCT Administration are doing our part by ensuring the implementation of policies and programmes that will aid the protection of the environment.”
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“Therefore, our message to the public is that we must learn to live in balance with the planet that sustains us by doing things the better way i.e cleaner, greener and healthier. Each of us has a role to play and each of us is part of the solution.”
Adesola therefore urged all the residents of the nation’s capital in . commendation of the.2022 World Earth Anniversary to commit themselves as good stewards of the Earth, adding that ” our home and the FCT our abode for generations to come.”
While commenting on this year’s theme; “Invest in our Planet”, the Convener of the Programme and Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Environment and waste management, Arc .Tunde Imolehin who called for cleaner environment hinted that the FCT Administration is doing its best by ensuring the implementation of policies and programmes that would aid the protection of the environment.
Daybreak reports that part of activity to mark the event was a road walk along the streets of Abuja to arouse public consciousness on the environment, and the need to preserve and protect it as well as a panel discussion on environmental sanitation and sundry issues.
