Former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and National Coordinator, Digital Peers international, Mrs Odusote Ibukun, has warned that bad management of waste could lead to calamity.
According to her, improper disposal of wastes, especially the plastic wastes, is a global phenomenon, needing global attention.
The former Permanent Secretary spoke during her visit, alongside some members of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Education Board, to donate receptacles to some government schools in the nation’s capital.
“I’ve spent so much of my career in the environment. Combining environment with agriculture and economical issues, they’re all within the same circle,” she said
“So I know, I have experienced, I know the calamity that we can have as a result of bad management of waste.
“It’s not just about Nigeria. It’s a global phenomenon that you have to address issues of waste management. You don’t want people to bring waste from other countries and dump them here in Nigeria.
“Nigeria wouldn’t want to do that to other countries. That’s why we have to educate our young people and give them talks on pollution and waste management, so that they don’t just throw things like that.
“Make them understand that the gutters are not meant for waste. It’s an over-aching burden that we want our environment clean.
“We want proper recycling or disposal. The FCT Administration will pay a lot more attention to waste management but I must commend the FCT Administration.
“Compared to many other states, the FCT is trying a lot. When you go into the hinterland, the villages of FCT, you will still see it’s a lot cleaner than other states.”
Bad management of waste could lead to calamity – Ex-Perm Sec, Odusote warns