By Ikenna Orioha
As the world celebrated Environment Day, an environment expert has advised residents in Imo State to arise and plant trees, particularly economic trees such as coconut, mango, orange, palm and pear trees including okazi to protect the environment
This was stressed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Imo State, Prince Obinna Chibuzo, during the World Environment Day Celebration, held at the Imo Concord Hotel, Owerri, on last Wednesday.
While recalling that the World Environment Day Celebration began in 1974 following the enactment of an Act by the United Nations in 1972 and which has since been observed by over 100 countries across the world celebrating the Day, he expressed gladness of the success of the Day in Imo State.
“It is a great day and usually World Sustainable Development Day. People should think globally and act locally. We have been so lucky with good environment inspite the problems. But we have to keep the environment safe and clean. Thank God Governor Emeka Ihedioha and his Deputy, Gerald Irona who are environment friendly and have been together at the House of Reps and will bring their wealth of experience to bear for enhanced environmental safety”.
He recalled that for a long time, Imo State has not had it so good in observing the Day, as well as keeping the environment safe and neat due to the nonchalance attitude of the immediate past government on enviromental safety.
He commended Governor Emeka Ihedioha for ordering a halt on sand dredging and other mining activities in the State especially when such menace is posing danger pending when an Environmental Management and Certification Plan is presented.
Mr. Chibuzo stressed that environment should be kept safe with effective sanitation so that future generation will equally inherit better environment.
“If you destroy, you repudiate. If you don’t have the capacity to repudiate, don’t destroy. Nature is such that you can’t destroy what you can’t restore. The land must not be degraded or jeopardized”.
Chibuzo hailed the Governor and his deputy for fully marking the Day with an assurance for sustainable environment, development and comfort living in the state.
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