“We Have Duty to Protect Our Environment” – Hon. Princess Ugwu

The Deputy Chief Whip of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Obiajulu Princess Ugwu, has cautioned the people against doing things that would worsen environmental degradation.

Ugwu, representing Enugu South Rural Constituency, noted that the degradation of the environment is responsible for the climate change and global warming being experienced in the world.

The lawmaker stated this while delivering a keynote address at the 2023 Environmental Impact Summit organised by the Earth, Environment and Climate Care Ambassadors, Enugu State Chapter.

She regretted that human activities like pollution and deforestation have negatively affected the environment, which is meant to protect and benefit humans.

According to her, these activities have triggered natural disasters, adding that no country is exempted from the disaster.

See Also: Enugu Assembly: LP Lawmaker Hits Ground Running, Inaugurates Strategic Think-tank

“Last year, Nigeria suffered devastating flood that affected many state, which the government blamed on the opening of Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

“As convincing as the excuse may sound, the reality is that the amount of rainfall usually experience before has increased, thus causing dams and rivers to overflow their bank.

“Aside occasional flash floods in Enugu State, gully erosion in different parts of the state is the worse environmental problem facing our dear state and indeed, the South East at large.

“There are around 2,800 active erosion sites in the south east and sadly, most of these erosion were as a result of human activities, whose consequences we are suffering today.

“Depletion of ozone layer, overpopulation, pollution, burning fossil fuels, deforestation and environmental pollution have triggered climate change, soil erosion, poor air quality, poor sanitation and undrinkable water.

“This calls for us – citizens, policy makers, civil society organisation etc. – to chart the way forward to preserve and protect our environment from suffering further damage”, Ugwu said.

She urged the government at all levels to protect the environment by implementing laws and policies that will discourage people from further abuse of the environment.

While asking the public from discriminate dumping of refuse, erecting structures on water ways, and blocking of drainage, Ugwu reminded them that have role to play in making the planet earth a liveable one.