By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The three tiers of government in Nigeria, in conjunction with the Managements of Higher Institutions, have been called upon to create a clean, hygienic environment with zero tolerance for open defecation in order to promote public health.
Professor Adenike Modinah Olatayo AbdulRaheem, a lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), made the call while delivering the 262nd Inaugural Lecture of the institution, titled “The Sojourn of a Physical Environmental Chemist Exploring Environmental Impact in the Life of Man”.
While commending the activities of the States’ Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) and urging their sustenance, the Inaugural Lecturer charged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, resuscitate the defunct Federal EPA, noting that the baseline for primary and secondary pollutants is a national data that cannot be limited to States.
She said: “Government should provide adequate funding and state-of-the-art equipment necessary for a groundbreaking research in physical environmental chemistry to all higher institutions to facilitate infrastructure upgrade, regular monitoring, and pollution control measures.
“Air is trans boundary, so any mishandling of gaseous effluents by industries can become a national or international problem. I call on Government at all levels to make their EPA to be functional and effective to aid to aid collaboration between government agencies, local communities and environmental agencies for more innovative and sustainable solutions to soil, water and air pollution ”
To achieve a rewarding, peaceful, clean and buoyant economy, Prof. AbdulRaheem stressed the need for government at all levels to institutionalise a punishment and rewarding system to assist the internal mechanism control for cleanliness of man’s environment, promotion of transparent and honesty in all facets of the government parastatals, including the higher education sector.
She added: “Government should note that it is critical to implement environmental management policies to mitigate the risks posed by heavy metal contamination in soil near dump sites, water and air for maintaining soil, water, ambient air quality and safeguarding public health.
“Government should establish state-of-the-art research centres in physical environmental sciences across geo-political zones with robust funding and comprehensive scientists training.”
She also admonished collaboration between industries and Chemistry Departments in Higher Institutions to develop biodegradable plastics from renewable sources to address plastic waste and protect marine ecosystems, implement comprehensive pollution control with accessible waste bins and strict regulations, with a view to enhancing University reputation and spurring economic growth.