Stakeholders implored to proffer solution to river abuse

The call was made by the Minister of Environment Mrs. Laurentia Laraba Mallam at the 24th Annual General Meeting and National Conference of the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES) with the theme: “Sustainable Use of Rivers in Nigeria”, in Warri, Delta State,
While condemning the abuse of the nation’s rivers by the public, she said: “Rivers are nature’s wonderful gift to mankind and are meant to provide numerous benefits to man and the ecosystem. However, the current misuse of these rivers as public dumps for domestic, municipal and industrial wastes as well as open defecation into water bodies has converted them into environmental hazards and burdens.”
Mallam said with the current emphasis on Greening Cities, this trend must stop, commending NES for bringing the topic to the forefront.
“It is my hope that at the end of the technical session, far-reaching solutions and recommendations would be proffered to address the environmental abuse of rivers in Nigeria,” she said.
She urged all well meaning Nigerians that have the appropriate environmental training and competence to partner with relevant government ministries and agencies to better the environment.
“The Federal Government is not resting on its oars as it is indeed aware and working continuously to deal with the myriad of environmental issues and challenges that confront us presently”.
According to her, government was working assiduously to address all environmental challenges, pledging to work with the Presidency and the National Assembly to ensure that the Bill on professionalising environment practice in Nigeria is passed into a law.
“I appreciate the participation of the society at public hearings and conferences at the National Assembly as well as the recent National Conference in an effort to bring environmental issues to the front burner,” she added.