By Ahmed Kaigama

The Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) has banned use of tyres to burn hides and skin during the Eid-el-Kabir festivities.

Its Director-General, Dr Mahmud Bose, who spoke on Wednesday in Bauchi. said the measure would safeguard public health and the environment.

He said the use of tyres to burn hides caused severe health hazards and environmental degradation.

According to Bose, using tyres to burn animal skin releases toxic fumes containing harmful chemicals such as dioxin and furan that pose risks to respiratory health and ecological systems.

“We are committed to protecting the lives of the people and the integrity of the environment. Using tyres to process animal skin is a dangerous practice that must be stopped.

“The ban is part of a broader campaign to instil sustainable environmental habits during cultural and religious festivities,’’ he said.

Bose said the agency had engaged stakeholders and community leaders, as part of  effort to curb the menace in the society.

He said the agency had deployed environmental health workers to communities, to promote compliance and safe practices.

“These teams are tasked with sensitising residents to proper methods for meat processing and safe disposal of animal excretions, to maintain hygienic surroundings during and after the celebrations,” he said.

The director urged residents of the state to support the agency, adopt safer alternatives, and avoid littering, stressing that environmental cleanliness is a shared responsibility.

He reiterated commitment to enforce environmental regulations and support community awareness initiatives during the festive period. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Rabiu Sani-Ali

By Bolanle Lawal

The Speaker of Ekiti House of Assembly, Mr Adeoye Aribasoye, says the Assembly will soon pass a bill banning single-use plastic to address environmental concerns, including flooding and plastic pollution in the state.

The speaker made this known during a pre-legislative stakeholders’ engagement workshop on plastic pollution in the state.

The workshop was organised by the Triple Green Environmental Development, TGED Foundation, in partnership with the Assembly’s Committee on Environment.

The speaker revealed that the bill has scaled the first reading.

Aribasoye pledged that there would be accelerated hearing of the bill for the governor’s assent, hoping that it would help rid the state of pollution caused by indiscriminate disposal of plastics.

The Chief Executive Officer, TGED Foundation, Seyi Ebenezer said the stakeholders’ forum themed: ‘Towards a Plastic-Free Ekiti Building Consensus for Legislative Action’ became imperative because of the risk plastic use poses to the environment.

She used the medium to encourage all stakeholders to preach against single use of plastic in their communities by adopting alternative use of disposing their waste.

The keynote speaker, Mrs Iyabode Fakunle-Okeimen, Chairman, House Committee on Environment, stressed the importance of banning single-use plastics in the state.

The guest speaker from Ekiti State University, Prof. Wole Adebayo, in his presentation tilted “Understanding the Impact of Plastic Pollution, Environmental, Health and Economic Consequences” harped on more awareness and sensitisation of single-use plastic and the danger it poses to the health.

He also said that used plastics can be converted into wealth by purchasing these products and recycling them into a refined product.

In his goodwill message, the Director-General of Ekiti State Tourism Board, Mr Wale Ojo-Lanre, harped on the dangers the single-use pose to human health such as terminal illness, expressing support for the banning of single-use in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders included market women, artisans, hoteliers, plastics manufacturers, students, environmentalists, among others.

NAN reports that the stakeholders noted the need for proper ways of disposing used plastics into the right channels and not on the streets to clog the drains, leading to flooding.

The stakeholders also used the medium to urge the government to turn plastics into wealth by buying them from the people thereby reducing the plastics on the streets and protecting the environment. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Augusta Uchediunor/Tayo Ikujuni

By Ahmed Abba

The Emir of Bade, in Yobe, Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman, says he will partner with the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) in the fight against desertification and environmental degradation in Northern Nigeria.

The royal father made the pledge on Sunday while receiving the Director-General of the agency, Saleh Abubakar and his delegation at his Palace in Gashua.

The visit was part of the agency’s ongoing high-level advocacy tour across the 11 frontline states affected by desertification.

It was to strengthen traditional and institutional partnerships for the successful implementation of the Great Green Wall initiative.

Abubakar said the Great Green Wall project was a pan-African programme dedicated to restoring degraded lands, combating climate change, and promoting sustainable livelihoods in arid and semi-arid regions.

He described the emir as a royal father with deep passion for environmental sustainability, expressing optimism that the emirate’s support would accelerate the implementation of the agency’s work plan.

“We are here to seek the support of traditional institutions such as yours, which play a vital role in mobilising communities and ensuring the long-term success of environmental restoration efforts,” Abubakar stated.

Responding, the emir emphasised the critical role of traditional rulers in promoting environmental awareness, mobilising grassroots participation, and protecting restored ecosystems.

“The restoration of our environment is a sacred duty.

“We are honoured to collaborate with the NAGGW in this important national and continental mission,” the emir said.

Suleiman reaffirmed the emirate’s commitment to supporting community-driven development and sustainable environmental practices.

Earlier, the NAGGW delegation had paid a visit to the North-East Arid Zone Development Programme (NEAZDP) in Gashua, where it explored areas of partnership and collaboration in environmental restoration and rural development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegation visited the 40-hectare plantations; woodlots, shelterbelts, fodder grass in Gajammo Community Nguru, 2km shelterbelts, each at Government College Nguru and Government Girls’ Secondary School, Nguru.

NAN also reports that the Great Green Wall initiative, launched by the African Union, aims to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 and create millions of jobs in the Sahel region. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

The Sokoto State Government is strengthening its communication strategies and response mechanisms to better prepare for and mitigate potential flooding. 

This includes improved early warning systems, proactive flood risk management, and strengthened collaboration between government agencies and local communities. 

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi, who is also the Chairman, Disaster Response Coordinating Committee in the state, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Sokoto.

Abdullahi said government was aware of 2025 Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMET) and Nigeria Hydrological Agency (NIHSA) predictions.

He said that a stakeholders’ meeting was convened comprising the Commissioner for Environment as well as others from other relevant agencies and security organisations on the forecast.

“Programmes and response mechanisms were fine-tuned on averting flood, planting of crops on the right time, needed seedlings and other considerations toward safeguarding people’s lives and properties.

“The committee warned people against tree felling, indiscriminate disposal of waste on the water ways which block water passages, unprofessional building constructions and other human activities while good messages were prepared for public circulation,” he said.

Abdullahi added that local government authorities, traditional institutions, farmers groups and other stakeholders were properly briefed on the strategies for circulation to people at different levels.

Also, Mr Abubakar Umar, Head of NIHSA in Sokoto State, said the agency plans to work with the state ministry of environment, water resources and agriculture to ensure a seamless coordination.

Umar said that Nigeria experienced harsh flooding incident in 2012 and 2018 while similar incidents were closely replicated in 2022 with high rainfall and flows from Sokoto and Bakalori Rivers which serve as a major source of flood in Sokoto State and environs.

“The 2025 predictions were disseminated with forecast of expected floods in some areas that comprised Goronyo, Tangaza, Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Rabah, Silame, Wamakko, Kebbe, Yabo and Shagari Local Government Areas.

“In 2022, 32 states of the federation were affected by flood and no fewer than 66, 622 persons, 6,136 houses and many farmlands were affected in Sokoto State,” he said.

The Head of NiMET in Sokoto State, Malam Yawale Baba, said the agency ensures prompt dissemination of information on weather and associated climatic situations to state and relevant agencies.

Baba said that the information was simplified in local languages and shared with relevant organisations in order to ensure right attentions and responses.

Speaking to NAN also, the Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Tukur Abubakar, said critical stakeholders meeting was organised by the agency.

Abubakar cautioned people on the dangers of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in waterways, constructions on flood prone areas and other human factors.

He urged stakeholders to sensitise the public as it is important due to the predictions that rain would be much this year.

“Based on NiMET predictions that rain will be much this year, NEMA, as a responsive agency, felt that we should start sensitisation programme in and around Sokoto State on the need to be mindful of how to keep the environment and clear the drains before the onset of this heavy rain.

“We are soliciting for more collaborations on mitigation strategies and sensitising people to have a cleaner environment to avert flooding,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza