Dogara made the call while declaring open a two-day public hearing on a bill to amend the National Environmental Standards Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to provide for and adopt clean air policies.
The event was organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Environment and Habitat.
Dogara, who was represented by the deputy minority leader of the House, Hon. Chukwuka Onyema (PDP, Anambra) expressed concerns over environmental devastation, particularly the current flood ravaging some parts of the country.
He called for concerted efforts to save the environment and Nigerians from devastating effects of greenhouse gas emissions, discharge of untreated harmful effluents and deforestation.
According to him, the current scenario of flaring associated gas, incidence of oil spillage and the discharge of untreated effluents into the canals, rivers and seas cannot continue indefinitely.
We cannot continue to pretend that this does not affect our environment, our health and lives.Nigeria
as a nation cannot afford to continue with this business as usual
attitude to forest clearing or deforestation. The effect of climate
change is real and its consequences are severe and we must do our utmost
not to exacerbate it.
Setting standard, ethical codes of conduct and professionalising
every segment of environmental practices is very apt and is therefore at
the very heart of the sustainability of our lives.We as a nation
need to key into building capacities and the competencies in every
aspect of environmental management, be it green or brown,’’ he added.
The Speaker further called for increased involvement of stakeholders in the management, protection and sustainability of the country’s environment.
According to him; “we need to encourage private sector, civil society and non-governmental organisations’ participation in environmental stewardship and accountability.”
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