Group laments plastic pollution of aquatic sector
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has described as alarming the effect of plastic pollution on the aquatic system in Cross River State.
Emmanuel Owan, the head of the foundation in Cross River State expressed this concern during a symposium to mark this year’s World Environment Day which has as theme: “Beat Plastic Pollution”.
Owan disclosed that plastic pollution has a carcinogenic effect on humans and that “we should be part of the solution and not the problem.”
He expressed concern that plastic waste is now found everywhere in the state including gutters, public spaces and even in reserved areas.
“Today, even the marine eco-system is so polluted that you catch a fish today and you see plastic inside it, it is as terrible as that.
“Some of these things have a carcinogenic effect not just on the ecosystem but on we humans who consume some of these aquatic animals.
“I can tell you confidently and without contradiction that we need the environment more than the environment needs us.
“The World Environment Day has been brought together to be able to inspire us to spread the message that the environment we have is just one earth and when we destroy it we are invariably destroying human life.
“Let’s be part of the solution and not part of the pollution,” he said.
He said the commemoration is aimed at creating sensitization among MDA’s, students, civil society groups about the need to protect the environment because it has been inundated with so much plastic.
Also speaking, a senior official from the state Ministry of Environment, Francis Okey said environmental education should be mainstreamed as a subject so that students can learn at a tender age how to conserve the environment.
The symposium was attended by several students from some public schools within the Calabar metropolis.
It was preceded by a sensitization awareness walk organised by the Environmental Science Department of the University of Calabar in partnership with the NCF.
