
Wetland
Minister of State for the Environment, Mrs Sharon Ikeazo, has called for stakeholders’ action on the preservation of Nigeria’s wetlands.
Ikeazo made the call on Monday in Bonny, Rivers State, during the celebration of the 2020 edition of the World Wetland Day.
Represented by Mr Tiamiyu Oladele, Director Forestry, the minister said that wetlands played host to plants and animals that relied on one another for sustenance within the ecosystem.
She said that companies, donor agencies and corporate individuals owed the country a duty to ensure the survival of Nigeria’s wetlands.
“They are the most valuable and productive ecosystems, they provide food, shelter and water for different species of plants and animals.
“They are like nature’s kidney; they act as the filters, they recycle nutrients and trap sediments. They can prevent the oceans from being polluted,’’ she said.
Also speaking at the event, Dr Muhtari Aminu-Kano, Director-General, Nigeria Conservation Foundation, urged Nigerians to stop degrading wetlands to enable them perform their roles in the ecosystem.
Aminu-Kano noted it was an unfriendly environmental practice to reclaim wetlands for construction purposes, saying, “we must also stop using them as refuse dumps’’
“Wetlands are not waste lands, they are important to the ecology, hydrology and the economy, we all must work together to preserve them,’’ he said.
On her part, Enayo Fatayi-Williams, the General Manager, External Relations, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), said the company was fully aware of the importance of wetlands to biodiversity.
Fatayi-Williams said that the Finima Nature Park, which was developed by the company was to boost biodiversity, climate regulation and ecotourism.
“ We want to ensure that the environment is safe for both humans and other living organisms; we shall ensure the sustenance of the park.
“We are a strong stakeholder in the clean and green environment project, the nature park is also a way of offsetting carbon footprints,’’ she said.
, reports that Wetlands are distinct ecosystem that are seasonally or permanently flooded, and having prevailing oxygen-free processing.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), theme for the 2020 edition of the World Wetland Day is “Wetlands and Biodiversity’’.
Join The Conversation
You May Like
Latest
I never collected salaries as Osun Governor – Aregbesola insists
Insecurity: Gov. Ganduje shuts 4 tertiary institutions
Business magnate, Boniface Ogunti launches online TV
Gov. AbdulRazaq probes Gana/Ganmo chieftaincy tussle
Zamfara schoolgirls kidnap: Buhari’s government has failed Nigeria – Soyinka
Seplat driving sustainability with growing gas business – CEO Brown
Hero of our democracy: Fayose congratulates Yakasai
Photos: Gov. Sani Bello meets freed Kagara students, others
Third Mainland Bridge now fully reopened seven months after – LASG
Nigeria in search of asset managers for $2.6b Infracorp
Insurgency: Gov. Buni excited with return of normalcy to Yobe
Dangote Refinery to buy Nigerian crude in Naira, sell petrol in Naira
Seyi Makinde donates 18-seater bus to Lanase Central Mosque
Guardiola happy to take ‘lucky’ win in Man City’s faultless 20-game run
NDLEA seizes Tramadol capsules worth N50m in Adamawa
#FreeDawisu: SERAP, others demand release of Ganduje’s ex-aide
President Buhari mourns Justice Kafarati
Former Argentina World Cup star Cavallero charged with manslaughter
What Oba Sikiru Woleola told me before his demise – Lai Mohammed
President Buhari mourns Justice Abdul Kafarati
Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway makes higher profit