Mailafia urges Nigerians to be environmental friendly
The Minister of Environment Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia has urged Nigerians to think about what they eat to avoid food waste and environmental damages.
She made the appeal today, Monday 3rd June, 2013 at the end of a five kilometer road walk, to mark the 2013 World Environment Day, from Area 1 roundabout to the head office of the Abuja Environmental protection Board at the Central Business District, Abuja.
She stated that the world enjoys so much food production, yet over 8 million people go to bed hungry and without food. She observed that people take more food at parties and meetings than they could eat, wasting more than a third of such servings. She appealed to all people to think when they eat to save energy, and avoid littering the environment with wastes. She emphasized the need for people to change their attitudes to the environment without the use of coercion.
She stated that the liberty people enjoyed in a democratic setting must be used responsibly, with respect for public health, safety, rules and regulations. The Minister disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Environment was walking with state governments and the Federal Capital Territory to provide more sanitary facilities like public toilets; public water taps to more grassroots locations across the country, to enhance environmental sanitation.
At the Kado fish market, the Honourable Minister charged the market management to improve the cleanliness and up keep of the facilities. She deplored the unclean toilets and environment of the market. She gave them two weeks to clean-up the place, or face sanctions. She inspected the stores and witnessed the destruction of 45 cartons of rotten frozen turkey, chicken and fish seized by Environmental Health Officers. She warned that Environmental Health Officers will henceforth make more surprise inspection visits to markets and other places relating to food production, marketing processing, or consumption.
She led the road walk and market inspection to mark the 2013 World Environment Day at the National level. She disclosed that states and local governments were also arranging their celebrations in their various localities.