Enviro: Lack of political will, ignorance abates non-enforcement of laws – Okolocha

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Dr Emmanuel Okolocha, National President of Society for Occupational Safety and Environmental Health (SOSEH) has attributed improper enforcement of environmental laws in the country to lack of political will and ignorance.
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Okolocha who disclosed this on Wednesday at the 10th annual conference of the society in Idah, decried the improper environmental management in the country.

He said that though there were good laws, environmental and safety issues were being handled with levity due to lack of political will on the part of the leadership and ignorance on the part of the citizenry.

“Ignorance and Lack of political will among many other factors, are among the major causes of improper environmental management, with concomitant ugly consequences of degradation and the negative effects on public health and livelihood patterns”, he said.

The SOSEH president said the conference was aimed at sensitizing the public, organisations and groups on the need to imbibe safety standards and ensure proper environmental management to create “an environment that is healthy and safe.”

Okolocha who is also a lecturer in Department of Veterinary, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, added that the conference would also proffer suggestion/solutions to issues affecting environment.

The conference, he added, would take appropriate steps to ensure environmental protection and occupational safety, “Many people don’t even know that their actions or attitude affect the environment.

“Those in authority are in the position to change the environment but will not culture people into doing the right thing for the environment as they neither apply the law nor enforce it,” he said.

He however called on individuals, organisations and government to support the society
to enable it attain its goals and objectives.

The objectives according to him, include to undertake campaigns and create awareness among primary pupils and secondary school students on the importance of promoting a healthy environment.

Dr Matthew Akpata, the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Idah, in his welcome address, charged the conference to proffer solutions to the nation’s environmental challenges and the resulting health hazards. (NAN)

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