The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello has said that concerted efforts should be made to protect the environment from plastic pollution.
Tunji Bello made this known at the cleanup of Oniru beach, an activity organized by Sterling One Foundation, in partnership with the Oniru Kingdom, to mark the 2022 Global Recycling Day to promote a cleaner environment in Lagos.
Bello who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Gaji Tajudeen, said that “the use of single-use plastic had been banned in the state.”
According to him, “the ministry is working seriously to see that Lagos residents embrace the culture of recycling.”
In her goodwill message, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, said the state was blessed with great aquatic splendour that needed to be kept clean to leverage the tourism potential of the waterways.
She also stressed the need to continue to protect the environment, noting that, “proper disposal of wastes will lead to less flooding in Lagos.”
Also, the Managing Director, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr Abubakar Suleiman, said that the bank is marking the Day in 21 states of the federation.
Suleiman, represented by the Executive Director, Commercial and Institutional Banking, Mr. Tunde Areola, said that the bank has been in the business of environmental sustainability through its cleanup programmes.
“Every time this happens, we have a cleaner environment,” Suleiman said.
According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sterling One Foundation, Mrs Olapeju Ibekwe, the cleanup exercise is borne out of the Foundation’s conversation with the Oniru of Iru Kingdom, Oba Gbolahan Lawal.
Mrs. Ibekwe said that the Oniru showed so much passion for environmental sustainability.
According to her, “with the experience of the four beaches adopted for the cleanup last year, Nigerians have begun to pay attention to waste sorting and recycling.
“Oniru kingdom has stood out on environmental sustainability and waste recycling. Our dream is to see how we can adopt all the shorelines for cleaning by up scaling their tourism potential.” Mrs. Ibekwe said.
She said that cleaning the environment is another means to wealth creation.
Sterling One Foundation will continue its Beach Adoption and Recycling project at Alpha, Lafiaji and Eleko Beaches.