Author Archives: sppnigeria

Humans have established communities and flourished around sources of clean, drinkable water since the beginning of time; It is vital to our survival. British poet W. H. Auden once noted, “Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” Yet while we all know water is crucial for life, we trash it anyway.

Water pollution is the cause of a long chain of illnesses. Infectious diseases can easily be spread through contaminated water. Some of these water-borne diseases are Typhoid, Cholera, Paratyphoid Fever, Dysentery, Jaundice, Amoebiasis and Malaria, to least a very few.

The health consequences alone of water pollution is quite remarkable, and is evident all around the globe so that last year alone, deaths from dirty water and related diseases is 3,393,156.

The problem of unclean water, to the extent of being unsafe, is more prevalent in developing countries, and is manifest almost everywhere in Nigeria.

In Abuja, the capital city, as a result of Increased human activities, the accidental and intentional dumping of pollutants, the Jabi lake, the only water body available to fun-seeking citizens with the metropolis is witnessing more than a fair share of water pollution; the fringes of the lake is unsightly, having been littered dense with all types of garbage, mostly plastic soft drink containers. Plastic pollution threatens food safety and quality, human health, coastal tourism, and contributes to climate change.

Without intervention, the challenges of pollution on the Jabi Lake will only increase as the demand for freshwater and eco goods and services also increase for communities whose source of livelihood is from the lake.

One of the most effective ways to stand up for our waters is to act, and speak out, in support of the Clean Water Rule. In compliance, on Saturday, the 6^th of February, 2021, the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), a Non-Governmental Organisation registered in Nigeria, visited the Jabi lake with volunteers and well-wishers to conduct a cleaning exercise.

At the end of the event which received tremendous support from members of the fishing community, the organisation was able to remove more than forty sack-full of waste from the water body, the fringes of the lake and its surroundings.

The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), on Saturday began cleanup at Jabi Lake fishing area in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT).

Mr Oghenemere Orugbo, Executive Director of the organisation who supervised the exercise said that the aim was to create awareness on the dangers of living in a filthy environment.

Orugbo said that the operation was determined to rid the environment of heaps of refuse.

He said the organisation wanted to ensure that people living in the area were free from contracting diseases, mosquito bite and other reptiles.

“It will also help to develop the community.

“The Jabi lake cleanup which became imperative is occasioned by the unacceptable amount of waste, mostly plastic waste carelessly dumped into the lake.

“The waste are dropped by fun-seekers and residents around the only lake situated within Abuja metropolis.

“The cleanup is basically the physical removal of plastic and other waste materials collected in cellophane bags, and for proper disposal.

“Participants were drawn from a pool of volunteers, members and trustees of the organisation, as well as our well-wishers,’’ Orugbo explained.

He said that the organisation decided to choose Jabi lake for the cleanup because it was the only lake in Abuja metropolis and the most popular location for fun-seekers in the FCT.

Orugbo said the organisation was also planning to conduct a survey and documentary on air pollution by quarries within the FCT.

He added that the SPP would educate people on the dangers of tree cutting and several other climate change education and awareness campaigns for selected schools in the country.

The executive director advised the government to collaborate with other relevant stakeholders for effective protection of the environment in the country.

He also urged residents to always ensure that the environment was clean and healthy to prevent sicknesses and diseases.

Mr Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, Director, Administration and Finance of the organisation said the NGO would continue to visit the lake in order to ensure the environment remained clean and healthy.

Ahanotu assured the community of the organisation`s full support and good working relationship to achieve a healthy and cleaner environment.

Also, Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed, Secretary to Fishermen Community, who spoke on behalf of the community, thanked the organisation for its good gesture, adding that the effort had encouraged the residents to do what was right.

Mohammed appealed to the government and other relevant stakeholders to support the NGO by providing sanitary facilities and other necessary items needed to ensure that the environment remained clean.

He said that the effort would help to protect the residents from contracting diseases and bring about development in the area.

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