An environmental expert, Dr Salamatu Ekpo, on Friday urged Nigerians to stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse due to its adverse effects on the environment and the health the people.
The expert said this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Ekpo, a lecturer at the Department of Environmental Management, Nasarawa State University, Lafia, also urged the government to build good drainage systems.
According to her, indiscriminate dumping of refuse can lead to contamination of water, blockage of water bodies, soil and air pollution.
“The adverse effects of indiscriminate dumping of refuse also include communicable and non-communicable diseases in most areas of the country.
“As we have federal highways, we should also have federal, state and local drainage systems. Individuals don’t have the capacity to build very good drainages.
“Every private or public housing estate, industries, companies, offices, should be made to identify a well structured waste management system before they are allowed to develop,” she said.
Ekpo added that the government should also strengthen the law enforcement and monitoring unit to ensure the menace was reduced to the barest minimum.
According to the expert, more initiative on recycling needs to be introduced, and that there should be incentives to encourage people to dispose refuse properly.
Ekpo called on Nigerians not to burn waste or trash to reduce air pollution.
“Proper waste management and introduction of green technology in industry are key to reducing air and waste pollution.
“Green technology is the use of science and technology to develop eco-friendly products and services that protect our environment.
“These include renewable energy, sustainable transportation, waste management and recycling.
“All these energy efficiency solutions help us move toward a more sustainable future,” she said. (NAN)
