The Nasarawa State Government has charged residents to adopt positive reorientation and attitudinal change toward environmental management.
Mr Gabriel AkaKa, the state Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lafia.
Akaka spoke ahead of the National Council of Environment scheduled to hold in the state on Monday, Aug. 15.
He said that the meeting would be declared open by Gov. Tanko Al-Makura.
The commissioner decried the carefree attitude of some Nigerians to the environment, saying the manner in which people just overlook the environment without any adequate attention to general cleanliness of where they live is worrisome.
According to him, apart from the biological make-up of human beings as they are created by God, it is only the environment that makes them what they are.
He noted that for people to live healthy and productive lives, their environment must be clean, bright and well catered for regularly.
Akaka explained that after food, the next thing on the priority of human beings is the environment as it could make or mar human existence depending on the way it is managed.
“Our environment defines us as human beings. But we all overlook our environment as if we can exist independently of the environment we live in. We act as if the only thing we owe ourselves is the cleanliness of our body alone,’’ he said.
On the meeting, the commissioner noted that the state would gain immensely from the outcome of the conference, as issues bothering on how to manage the environment for protection of life would be discussed.
“Issues of climate change, forestry draft and deification, flood, erosion and constant management as well as issues of environmental impact, assessment and regulations, and institutional governance will be discussed at the conference.”
He said these issues would be thoroughly brainstorm by the various directors who are technical officers in their respective various states.
However, Akaka expressed delight that the conference was coming at a time the state is grappling with environmental challenges, especially flooding.
He disclosed that stakeholders from environmental related fields from across the 36 states of the federation and Abuja as well as the Minister of Environment were expected as participants.
The commissioner gave the theme for this year’s meeting as: “Environment for Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria, Empowering People Taking Climate Actions Protecting their Environment’’.