By Cleopatra Eki
To enlighten people on the risks of an unclean ocean.No fewer than 2,000 youths from Lagos and environs have engaged in the clean up of the Elegushi Beach to protect lives on land and water. ln line with Sustainable Development for healthy planet for all through SDGs .
The goals include Goal 6-Clean water and Sanitation, Goal 7 Affordable and Clean Energy, Goal 13 Climate Action, Goal14 Life Below Water and Goal 16 Life on Land
The event organised by Bola Ahmed Tinubu coordinators, runs from 7am-10 am last Satuday at Elegushi Beach Lekki Lagos.
Speaking to Giwa Rukayat Motunrayo Mass communications Lagos State University and an advocate of environmental responsibility said Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is my political role model, he has done a lot for Lagos state while he was at the helms of affairs then she advised people to vote for him in the forthcoming election.
The environmentalist and political inclined student said the exercise was possible due to the concerted efforts of volunteers and environmental enthusiasts to pollution in the oceans.
“Our planet is dying gradually of wastes and as active citizens, the responsibility is on us to act fast to save the planet,’’
“The Elegushi Beach Cleanup project is largely inspired by concerned students youths and members of the society who wanted to take action to reduce the amount of trash and plastic that enters the ocean.
“The BAT event is an opportunity to further emphasized the need to bring people’s attention to the need for regular cleaning and increasing rate of plastic pollution in Nigeria both on the lands and beaches.” Youth called on the Federal Government to enact and enforce policies and regulations to quell plastic pollution in the waterways.
“There are many things we can do as individuals to reduce our plastic consumption but the government must come up with enforceable regulations on plastic bags and bottles.“These laws should regulate the production, importation, sale and use of plastic bags and bottles in Nigeria,’’
Speaking to Comrade Onisemo Sulamun Health Volunteer Mushin Local Government said “There were heavy turnout of youth from different Tertiary lnstitutions, University of Lagos, Yaba Tech , Lagos State University and different local governments, lkeja, Mushin, Ode Olowu, lkate, Lagos lsland among others.
According to him, the aim is to support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential ambition to do more for all especially for youth through empowerment, job creation and good education among others and also the cleanup at the beach was an attempt to enlighten people on the risks of an unclean ocean.
He adds “This Beach cleanup project at Elegushi is to enlighten the people on the risk of unclean oceans and its hazards to health. It should be a collective effort of the people and government. It should not be a one off cleaning but a continuous process”.
“BAT clean up and Mini rally is a wakeup call for everyone in Nigeria to ensure their environment is clean and healthy.”
He added that, insecurity, kidnapping, crime and insurgent would be reduced when he is elected – he concluded.
Ransome Bowell Kingsley, Lagos State University Student of Arts & History Education , we the LASU students are here to support BAT Beach cleaning, and to take a stand against plastic pollution in the waterways.
“We are also here to support BAT Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for President 2023, he did a lot in Educational system when he was a governor, he will do more as a Our President ‘- he said
While in LASU we as students have imbibe the culture of cleaning ourselves school and environment, learning from our Professor Tunji Bello hence we are spreading the culture to coastal community and beyond.
“With a lot of students volunteers, we were able to bagged lot of wastes sorted into plastic bottles, glass bottles, rubber slippers, polythene nylons and food wastes.
“There are many things we can do as individuals to reduce our plastic consumption. Individuals must effectively and efficientlygo an extra mile to clean his environment”.
