How to Conserve Nature’s Gifts is Mankind’s Main Challenge, Says Fashola
Nature, according to records, has existed billions of years and, in all of this time, has supported various species, as it keeps evolving. It has been proven that nature does not need mankind to exist but that humanity needs to adapt to nature’s evolution
Nature compels mankind to live by its rules and one step out of line could spell doom. For instance, people throw thrash into streams, rivers, Lagoons and even into the sea and most of these wastes wash ashore. The jetties/shorelines of all the coastal cities of Nigeria are always clogged with all sorts of solid wastes dumped into the waters by man. The sea cleans itself of man’s trash and throws them back on shore. That is Mother Nature at work.
According to Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, “The greater challenge is ours, to understand how to conserve nature’s gift, to adapt to nature’s evolution, to mitigate against the hazards of the environment, and to seek for sustainability in all that we do.”
Governor Fashola, who stated this at the 7th Lagos State climate change summit that held in Victoria Island, Lagos, recently, declared that “Nature and environment have been here long before we came, many species have come before us and they have gone.”
The governor caused to be aired a brief documentary on Mother Nature’s invincibility that was produced by Conservation International and, at the end of the playback, he said, “We have come and we will go. Nature and the environment will remain.” Lagos’ Initiatives… Fashola said his administration initiated some projects and programmes that would encourage sustainable development, adding that some of these pro-environment projects were not understood by some people, but that the government was able to create a better environment regardless.
“First I wish to state that not even our harshest critics and even the cynics (some within my administration), who called us all sorts of names when we started our greening programmme, can deny its success and the fact that we are leaving a greener Lagos behind.
“After planting over 5 million trees, creating 196 parks and over 90,000 jobs that did not exist before, and a Parks and Gardens Agency created for maintenance and sustainability, I am proud to acclaim the success of our Greening initiative, not only for its audacity in the face of doubts, but for its sustainability in jobs and economic development.
“Secondly in the area of Energy Conservation, our Five Independent Power Plants have led to the reduction of power costs in running some critical public utilities likes schools, court rooms, water works, hospitals and police stations, by close to 40 per cent.
“But this is not the end of the journey, they have used cleaner fuel, mainly gas, and led to the decommissioning of 400 (Four Hundred) generators and an annual Co2 emission reduction of 1,017,000,000 lbs leading to a cleaner environment by the reduction of pollution.
“Currently, 127 public schools and 11 primary Healthcare Centres are benefiting from the installation of solar power to further deepen these gains.
“The economic impact of engineers, fitters, technicians and many similar jobs created by these initiatives makes us proud to acclaim that we have tapped into the economics of the environment.”
The government, he said performed well in the area of solid waste management, particularly with the construction of transfer loading stations, adding that no less than 15,000 people are employed as street sweepers, and that the PSP waste collection system currently employed at least 9,000 people who hitherto were unemployed.
Fashola said, “Waste management in Lagos is a much improved undertaking and I am glad that we finally lost the unenviable appellation of one of the dirtiest cities in the world, and we have now become the centre of study for how to manage solid waste, not only within Nigeria but within the West African sub-region.
“Our cooking gas initiative to our women and rural communities has benefited 20,000 (Twenty Thousand) people and is gradually reducing the need for cutting trees for firewood.”
The governor informed the audience, among which were pupils and students from public schools that “Our Climate Change Clubs in our schools are targeting and successfully attracting the next generation to sustainable environmental habits that will help them adapt better than we have done.” Challenges… About problem-solving in governance, he said “We hold office not because of our successes, but because of our willingness to confront problems, and I am the last person to suggest that there are no problems. Indeed that is the reason for the existence of Government; to solve problems.”
He said, “Adequate water supply, effective sewage and sewerage treatment and discharge continue to challenge us.
“Our main source of raw water supply is the Ogun River and we remain dependent on the benevolence of our sister State for sharing this resource.
“Apart from improving the pumping and production capacity of Iju and Adiyan Phase I Water Works by building the Akute Power Plant, we have added 15 new main Water Works of 2 Million gallons a day each, and increased the Otto-Ikosi Water Works to 4 Million gallons, while Dolphin and Lekki Water Works are now getting more reliable power to produce because of the Lagos Island and Lekki Independent Power Plants.
“But we are not done. On our own, with your taxes, we have embarked on a 75 Million Gallons per day brand new Adiyan Phase II Water Works which should be completed in 2016.
“As far as waste water and sewage treatment is concerned, many of the old and dysfunctional waste water and sewage treatment plants in Alausa, Abesan, Iponri, Oke-Ifa, Amuwo-Odofin built by the Jakande administration have been revived, rehabilitated and are now functional. A lot of local capacity has been built for their sustenance and maintenance.”
Work, he said has started on a flagship waste water and sewage treatment plant at Odo - Iya Alaro in Ojota “that will define the future of waste water and sewage treatment in Lagos. As for the future, I have no fear. The environment in Lagos will remain protected and sustainable.”
He described the Eko Atlantic City Project as the new wall of Lagos on the Atlantic, saying it is already achieving its objective of protecting Lagos from flooding; even before the city is fully built.
Lagos, like other coastal cities, he said has been ravaged by coastal erosion, stating that “We have seen waves as high as 7 meters. The wall and the project just did their jobs.
“Our massive drainage interventions across the State have consigned flooding in places NTA at Ahmadu Bello Way Victoria Island, Lekki Expressway, Idi-Araba LUTH, Arigbanla in Agege, Iddo and UNILAG back gate to history.
“But I know the work is not finished, and i am sure water levels will continue to rise. Nevertheless we have left behind a plan, contained in the 2012-2025 Lagos State Developmental Plan, and with you the people behind this plan, all will be well.”
Setting an agenda for the future, Fashola said, “A growing population needing more food and water; dwindling water supply and land being lost to desertification; farmers needing to move their cattle and livestock in search of food and water; conflicts and security breaches arising from cattle and livestock trespassing on other people’s land and sometimes damaging food crops.
“More people holding and using smart phones, tweeting, texting and communicating; please note that there is a steady and persistent demand for energy to keep these phones and devices functional.
“People are being displaced by flooding; and many more. This is a possible picture of the future. But it is not a grim or hopeless one. It is sustainable.
“Solar energy, wind energy, electric cars, conservation, a new economy, a major technological revolution are the flip side of that coin. They await those who dare to reach for it.
“Lagos is now prepared to venture, it is in our hands, we must not lose it, we must reach for the sky, protect, conserve and re-use in the Centre of Excellence, and all will be well.” Summits’ Goals… He said yearly, the summit looked at a theme “that seeks to highlight these issues of conservation, mitigation, adaption, vulnerability and their impacts on our daily lives; from transportation, to housing, infrastructure, our reproductive lives, our life expectancy, business, our general wellbeing, poverty and prosperity, the environment plays a crucial role and we ignore it at our peril.
Our maiden summit theme was “Towards a Lagos State Climate Change Adaption Strategy”, followed by “Trans-boundary Effects of Climate Change Sharing Best Practices in Mitigation”. And then we had “Charting a Road Map for Combating Climate Change in Nigeria” followed by “Vulnerability and Adaptability to Climate Change in Nigeria: Lagos State Agriculture, Industry and Health Sectors in Focus” and next by “Vulnerability and Adaptability to Climate Change in Nigeria - Lagos State Transport, Housing and Infrastructure in Focus” and subsequently “Exploring Business Opportunities in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Lagos State in Focus.”
This year’s theme, “Celebrating Success Stories, Reviewing Challenges and Setting Future Agenda”, will not be different.