An NGO, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), has urged state governments to strengthen the implementation of environmental laws and regulations for proper protection of the environment.
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The Chairman of CLO in Anambra, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, made the appeal while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Friday.
Ezekwueme spoke on the sideline of the World Environment Day, which is commemorated worldwide on June 5 and this year’s theme is “Celebrating Biodiversity.”
He said: “I most passionately appeal to state governments through their state houses of assembly to enact stringent legislations that will protect and preserve our environment.
“However, positive environmental laws are not enough; there is the need to establish viable environmental protection agencies and special environmental marshal corps at all tiers of governments,” he said.
The CLO boss also said that concerted efforts should be made to protect the environment, adding that Nigerians should take ownership of their environment and preserve it.
“It is pertinent for government and the citizenry to device means and ways to turn our waste into wealth as well as stop degrading and polluting our environment.
“This movement will avert avoidable health challenges; since a healthy environment breeds healthy citizenry and nation,’’ he said.
Ezekwueme, however, lamented the huge loss in the environment to natural disasters such as erosion, flooding, sand dredging, indiscriminate waste disposal and torrential downpour.
NAN reports that the World Environment Day is the day that the United Nations has dedicated to encourage worldwide awareness and action to protect the environment.