The Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, has advised residents of Abuja to avoid the use of plastic materials in their daily activities to minimise its impacts on the environment.
The Executive Secretary, FCDA, Alhaji Umar Jibrin, gave the advice at a capacity building seminar tagged, ‘‘Nothing wasted,’’ in Abuja on Friday.
Jibrin said that the event was organised to commemorate the World Environment Day and appealed to the people to be mindful of the impacts of their activities on the environment.
He said his advice became imperative ‘‘so as to leave a safe and wholesome environment for the coming generations.’’
Jibrin said that the seminar was aimed at providing insights on practical guidelines to the public to achieve sustainable development.
Represented by Mr Adebowale Ademo, Deputy Director, Institutional Buildings, Jibrin pledged the FCDA’s commitment to bequeathing a world class city and liveable environment to Nigerians.
‘‘We are very conscious of the need to ensure that design and construction processes being deployed are sustainable and geared towards contribution to the ultimate dream of developing Abuja as a model city.’’
The representative of the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria at the event, Bella-Ann Ndubuisi, said the embassy recently launched a programme called Green Initiative to collaborate with local organisations on recycling.
She said bags were provided to staff of the embassy who filled them with plastic materials and returned to the embassy who handed them over to the organisations.
She stated that funds generated thereof were used for giving out scholarships to the needy in the society.
She, therefore, urged the public to desist from using plastic bags for shopping, packaging and others.
Mr Ndubuisi Ahanonu of International Institution of Creative Development Centre, advised the people to always sort their waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials.
He said such categorisation was necessary so that the non-biodegradable materials would not find their way into rivers, oceans and other water bodies to kill aquatic animals.
Source: NAN
