As the population mushrooms, so is the corresponding increase in waste generation, therefore, adequate attention to environmental issues is a sine qua non for healthy being. Ensuring a healthy living and sustainable environment occupies a centre stage of the SDGs 17 goals also known as global goals. The goals which have 169 targets and 247 indicators swivel 92 of its indicators on environments. This shows how strategic environment is to the actualisation of the entire goals.
Unquestionably, one of the major negative impacts of highly populated areas is massive waste generation, be it sold, liquid, domestic gaseous or industrial. It benoves of us as a lawful citizen to keep our environment tidy and wean ourselves away from indiscriminate dumping of wastes which has continually been haunting us like a baleful ghost.
If development depends on good governance, its axiomatic to conclude that bad governance is a shoddy reflection of poor governance which firstly manifests itself in how tidy or unkempt our environments are.
Kudos should be given to GSM’s administration for living to his mecuric reputation on the triad of Health, Safety and Environmental Standards (HSE) which forms a tripod on which good governance rests. This brings relief to the residents of the state ,schools, hospitals etc. who are taking the batons for the overall maintenance of health and safety. He has proved wrong, the cynics who thought his meritable work ended in his first tenure like a suitor whose perfume gradually looses fragrance,
The disposition of the state as frowning at indiscriminate waste generation was amplified recently through the energetic commissioner for environment and natural resources, Abdulmajeed Mogbanjubola who stated interalia that “Oyo State government was poised at ensuring a clean environment across the state”. He further warned anyone culpable to be ready for punishment in accordance with the extant laws.
Our environment is a first testimonial assertion of wom we are and as Aristotles, the Greek philosopher posits in his Nicomachian Ethics that “We beam moral virtue through habits and practice rather than reasoning and instruction” Maintaining sustainable environment is what I consider a universal moral law which is one of the John Rawls social contracts the citizens across the globe must sign with the governments.
It’s attitudinal issue that requires constant mass orientation. In view of this, the National Orientation Agency, particularly at Oyo state level, has intensified its campaigns on “Do the right thing”. The sensitization is action – focused as, examples they say are better than precepts.
I wonder how we can debase so low as a moral being to making the medians that should enhance the aesthetic view of our state a dumpsite? This is unimaginable. As the Hon commissioner, Mogbanjubola rightly pointed out “The road medians are to give way to smoother traffic flow, reduce the menace of head- on collision and also enhance aesthetic and pleasant views of the road and environment at large, unfortunately, he added, that some residents have turned the medians to where they can dump refuse” its really lamentable.
As the inspection and refuse evacuation will not be a one – off thing in all all the zones so is the concomitant attitudinal change campaigns will continue until our people see reason to “do the right thing and transform the State and Nigeria at large. We should join hands to make the realization of SDGs a reality rather than pipe dreams.”
Isiaka-kehinde is a public affairs analyst.
