Press Releases

Fashola Restates Commitment To Safety Of The Environment

Mar 12, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Thursday inaugurated the State Steering Committee of the Nigeria –Africa Stockpiles Programme, reiterating the commitment of the administration to protect and improve the health of its citizens through qualitative environmental programmes and initiatives.

Governor Fashola who spoke at the Conference room of the Lagos House, Ikeja, added that achieving the mandate of the committee of reducing the risk of obsolete pesticides on human beings and the environment will complement the various initiatives of the administration to enhance quality and safety of our environment.

The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for The Environment, Dr Muiz Banire identified the initiatives of the administration to enhance the quality are safety of the environment which would help the committee achieve its mandate to include the formation of Climate Change Clubs in all schools, the extensive greening/beautification of open spaces, implementation of the school beautification programme and the aggressive tree planting campaign.

He added that pesticides manufacturers and dealers must as a matter of responsibility to the environment and society at large, commit themselves to taking measures to prevent the accumulation of obsolete pesticides and containers as well as promote environmentally sustainable pest control methods, such as integrated Pest Management, that reduces pesticides usage.

He pledged the readiness of the state to actively support the committee and take decisive steps in dealing with obsolete pesticides and preventing their recurrence, particularly those toxic substances known as the dirty dozens which were outlawed by the Stockholm Convention.

Governor Fashola charged every member of the committee to work hard to attain its objectives which include identifying the root cause for the accumulation of the stocks and adopting measures to ensure that no more stocks will accumulate.

Other objectives of the committee are inventorizing publicly held obsolete pesticide stocks within the state and ensuring Pesticide safety education and pesticide applicator regulation which are designed to protect the public from pesticide misuse.

The team will also identify types and amounts of pesticide formulations, as well as the quantity of contaminated containers and equipment, contaminated soil and other material that may need to be dealt with in order to deal with the problem as comprehensively as possible.

The Governor described pesticides as necessary evil which man particularly in the Sub Saharan Africa cannot do without, adding that they are chemicals, biological and other substances used to kill pests such as insects, plant pathogens, weeds, mollusks, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes and microbes that compete with humans for food, destroy property, spread disease or constitute other kinds of nuisance.

He added that pesticides also have negative side effects such as potential toxicity to humans and other animals, stressing that over 98 percent of sprayed insecticides and 95 percent of herbicides reach and affect destinations that were not targeted such as air, water, bottom sediments and food.

Furthermore, Governor Fashola said the obsolete pesticides which are often stored outdoors in leaking containers, seep into the soil and water environment turning potentially fertile soil into hazardous waste.

He added that containers of such substances are used for storage of water and food despite the danger they pose to human health, stressing that studies have shown that three million workers in agriculture in the developing world experience severe poisoning from pesticides with about 18, 000 dying as a result.

In his goodwill message, the Project Coordinator of Nigeria-Africa Stockpiles Programme, Mr Theodore Nwaokwe said the programme truly seeks among others to reduce the exposure of farmers, transporters, retailers and vulnerable groups to the harmful effects of pesticides.

He added that the programme also seek to train key stakeholders in inventory, collection and containment of obsolete pesticide stocks including safe handling/recovery of usable stocks while eliminating the need for decontamination of arable land.

In his welcome address, the Commissioner for t he Environment, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Sesan Olanrewaju commended Governor Babatunde Fashola for his unalloyed support to efforts to strengthen the capacity for pesticide management with the objective of reducing its risk to human and the environment.

Members of the committee inaugurated include Dr (Mrs) Titi Anibaba, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment, Mr Kola Falase from Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, (LASEPA), Mr Femi Oyedele (LASEPA), Mr Ijandipe Adeola from Society for International Development(NGO), Engineer C.C. Chikwendu from Friends of the Environment(NGO), Mr Bankola Micheal from Office of Environmental Services, Mr Alao .A.O from Ministry of Agricultutre and Cooperatives, Mrs T.N. Idris from Ministry of Rural Development, Mr Asiribo R.O from Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Others are Mr Lawal .K.T from Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Dr Funsho N.O, President Fish Farmers, Mr Akinlolu President, Apex Farmers Association in Lagos State and Mr Soji Kuforiji of the Office of Special Adviser in the Governor’s Office.