By Ignatius Ushie
As we draw close to the rainy season, the effects of climate change begins to manifest thereby putting everyone on check. It is on this note that a Non-Governmental Organisation advocating for a clean and healthy environment, Compassionate Advocacy for the Poor Initiative (CAPI) has called on all hands to be on deck in order to mitigate the effects of global change in Nigeria.
Speaking at a cleanup exercise in Nyanya motor park in FCT Abuja recently, Sukaya Mohammad, Director, Climate Change. CAPI, said it is important to keep the environment safe and clean hence it’s the basis for avoiding natural disaster like flooding.
Mohammad recalled that the effects of last year’s flooding is still taking its tool on the people adding that, the reason CAPI is in Nyanya was to collaborate with the people and see to the safety and clean environment within the area of operation.
According to her, “climate change is real and has come to stay, what we can do now is to manage the negative effects of climate change and see how the environment can improve through cleaning and maintaining the environment.
“We are at Nyanya today because this is a gate way out of Abuja city, many people travel from this motor Park to other parts of the country, if they notice that the park is clean and the environment healthy, they will copy and want to replicate same in their place.”
Responding to a question, the Director, Climate Change, called on residents of Nyanya to stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse, especially by the road side hence the reason for blockage of drainage resulting to floods.
“The best way to tackle flooding is to keep the environment clean. We were in Jabi, now we are in Nyanya motor park, our next point of call will be the school, the reason is that we want the students to know that a clean environment will enhance their learning”. Mohammad said.
Earlier, Mr. Solomon Oga, Director of Accounts at CAPI said, the essence if the cleanup exercise was not for any personal gain, but a show of commitment to a clean and healthy environment which is the core mandate for the NGO.
