By Jude Onyenedogha
The Chairman of Onuimo Local Government Area, Hon. Emeka Obi, Managing Director of Eastern Waste Management Corporation, Nick Samolsvatov and the the Sub Deen, Students Affairs, Imo State University, Prof. Maurice Obasi were among stakeholders who made case and committed to environment friendly practices during the 2026 World Environment Day in Imo State.
Fielding questions from newsmen during the event, Obi described the 2026 edition of the annual World Environment Day as unique, in the sense that it was being celebrated with a unique theme: Climate Action”.
He said, “It goes to remind us that this climatic change we have been talking about is now here with us. The negative impacts are being felt by all and sundry, hence, the need for everyone to brace up, face the challenges, and do those things that will help us to encourage afforestation and green energy.
He promised to take the important messages and information from the day’s lecture home and spread it to his people, while initiating and implementing climate friendly policies and actions in the LGA.
The Managing Director, Eastern Waste Management Corporation, Nick Samolsvatov used the opportunity to once more call on Imo citizens and residents to maintain proper disposal of their waste, avoid using plastic to cover gutters.
“We will do the rest; clean up, protect, recycle. We will handle the waste in an environment friendly manner. We are getting on with it, it is not something that will be achieved with immediate effect, but gradually we will get there.
“We are supporting the initiatives of Governor Hope Uzodimma for Imo to be the cleanest state in Nigeria. We are going to achieve it, practically before the end of the year”.
While disclosing that the main challenge is that people are throwing waste anyhow, Samolsvatov appreciated Imo citizens who have been responding positively to the directives of the Corporation on how to properly dispose their waste.
“On our own side, we are also preparing some institutional changes. We are trying to improve the law system, we are trying to make improvements, we have been sensitizing Imo people on how to dispose their waste properly”.
Also fielding questions from newsmen, the guest lecturer of the event, who is the Sub Deen, Students Affairs, Imo State University, Prof. Maurice Obasi said the lecture focused on the fact that climate change effects are presently with us in Nigeria, which requires government and people of Nigeria to play their roles, using two standards; mitigation and adaptation.
He explained, “mitigation is to prevent, while adaptation is to absolve. Under mitigation, you are using options, such as renewable energy sources, while adaptation is to cope with it, by employing measures that will help us to leave with climate change challenges, like desilting of the sea, unclogging of drainage systems, reforestation and engaging in nature based systems of agriculture”.
He stressed the need to implement all the existing climate laws, such as; climate change Act of 2021, the Environmental Impact Assessment Act of 1992, the NESRA Act of 2023, among others, while all the relevant institutions such as; National Council on Climate Change and similar institutions in states should be activated and empowered to deliver on their mandate.
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