By Emmanuel Oluwakorede
As the World Celebrates this year’s Environment Day, the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, (N-HYPPADEC), has reiterated its commitment to partnering with relevant stakeholders in ensuring eco-friendly initiatives.
Acting Managing Director of the Commission, Mr. Jimoh Haruna Gabi stated this at an event to mark this year’s World Environment Day in Lokoja.
The World Environment Day is the biggest international day for the environment and it is observed annually on June 5.
It is a United Nations Day that brings together millions of people across the globe in a shared mission to safeguard and restore our planet, empowering governments, businesses, communities and individuals to drive sustainable change.
To celebrate the Day with the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution,” in Kogi State, the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, (N-HYPPADEC), gathered stakeholders at the GYB Model Science Secondary School in Lokoja.
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Monday Anyebe said the Government has put necessary measures in place and will partner with all relevant stakeholders to mitigate the effect of plastic wastes.
Acting Managing Director of the Commission, Mr. Jimoh Gabi called for sustainable actions against plastic pollution in the country, describing the theme as apt in view of the need to take urgent actions to combat the negative effects occasioned by dumping of plastic wastes into drainages.
According to him, the Commission has constructed flood control structures in Benue, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara as well as established tree seedlings nurseries in ten N-HYPPADEC States with One million capacity production towards restoring green cover and combating effects of climate change.
He urged all to take concrete steps by planting trees, avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse and respect environmental laws as part of steps to check the impact being created by plastic wastes amongst other measures.
In his keynote lecture, the Dean of Social Science, Federal University Lokoja, Professor Salihu Danlami Musa called for an end to what he called; ” infringement on the environment by human beings”
Goodwill messages from the Maigari of Lokoja, Representative of the 21 Local Government Chairmen, Kogi State chapter of Nigeria Environmental Society all urging for necessary steps and actions against plastic wastes negative impacts on the society.
Highlights of the occasion was the planting of trees, Flag-Off and handing over of flood early warning sensitisation materials, Desilting and evacuation of blocked Drainages and culvert project.
