The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo Olu, has restated his commitment to championing the cause of nature conservation to promote sustainable environmental management in the State.
The Governor, who disclosed this in his address during the Lagos State Government and Nigeria Conservation Foundation powered Y2021 Annual Walk for Nature, held simultaneously at Ikoyi-Obalende, Surulere and Ikeja Local Government Areas, said the State Government would continue to safeguard biodiversity through the introduction of appropriate laws.
Sanwo-Olu, speaking through the Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources, Engineer Joe Igbokwe, added that the introduction of biodiversity laws would help protect and better manage wetland systems and biodiversity in the State.
He described the theme for this year’s event “Conserve Biodiversity, Sustain Humanity” as very apt, considering the alarming rate at which the World’s biodiversity is constantly being threatened.
According to him, biodiversity has to do with all varieties of life, which include their interactions with one other and the environment, adding that human activities over the past few centuries have not only impacted the earth but had altered the course of nature via over-exploitation of other life forms and
pollution.
The Governor averred that the United Nations Global Biodiversity Outlook Report 2020 with the title: “Humanity Stands at a Crossroads With Regards to the Legacy it Leaves to the Future Generations”, noted that biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate and the pressures during this decline are intensifying.
The Chairman, Executive Council Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Chief Ede Dafinone, stated that biodiversity is the bedrock of human existence and called on all to live in partnership with nature.
He urged Lagosians to show love to one another by caring for the environment, stating that the Lagos State Government and NCF will continue to propagate the message of Environmental Sustainability to the grassroots.
Earlier, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, noted that conserving biodiversity to sustain humanity is very essential considering the fact that biodiversity is essential to human health, well-being and prosperity.
Bello, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Mrs. Belinda Odeneye, said biodiversity supports the provision of ecosystem services such as food, freshwater, fuelwood, fibre, biochemical and ecotourism, which are central to economic activities.
He said human cravings for developmental changes, plastic production and consumption, as well as illegal trade in endangered species, have caused great harm to nature and biodiversity, maintaining that there is a need to restore these priced resources.
The Commissioner explained that the State Government, through the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda, addresses some of these issues to ensure environmental sustainability, stressing that the State is developing a sector policy on wetland and biodiversity to ensure balanced development where the cause of nature is adequately mainstreamed into the development planning.
“Furthermore, the State through its plastic recycling programme addresses the issue of Plastic Waste pollution that negatively affects aquatic wildlife and causes environmental degradation”, he revealed.
The walk featured participation by several groups, corporate organisations, volunteers and environment enthusiasts.
