In its bid to find lasting solution to soil pollution, the Lagos State government on Thursday urged residents to halt the destruction of its soil, stressing that pollution was a major soil threat and a serious global concern.
The charge was given by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement he signed to celebrate 2024 World Soil Day in Alausa, saying that the annually celebrated day drew attention to the importance of soil health and raise awareness on the use and management of soil resources in a sustainable manner.
Wahab, while highlighting the theme for the 2024 World Soil Day “Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage” said it was apt as it directly spoke to issues of soil degradation and unsustainable use of soil, adding that it equally underlined the importance of collecting accurate data on soil usage to afford regulators the opportunity to make informed decisions on sustainable soil management for food security.
“The importance of healthy soil cannot be overemphasized as they are very essential for healthy plant growth, soil filtration processes, human nutrition through resilient agrifood systems, carbon sequestration and overall ecosystem health considering that it serves as habitat for billions of organisms serving different purposes within the ecosystem,” he said.
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He mentioned some of the biggest threats facing soil health in the state to include unsustainable sand mining and dredging practices, indiscriminate land reclamation activities, soil erosion, deforestation, indiscriminate solid waste disposal practice urging communities and individuals to be environmentally mindful of the soil and give deserved attention to preserve it
Wahab stated that it was important to raise awareness and seek solution to the increasing challenges raised by polluting the soil, adding that that the state government could not have found a better opportunity especially when the state was being confronted with issues of soil and land degradation.
“Loss of forest and wetland areas in the state is rampant, more than ever. During a study conducted by the ministry, cases of widespread soil erosion were reported in places like Alimosho, Mosan-Okunola, Isheri, Ojodu, Egbe-Idimu, Agbado Oke-Odo, Ifako-Ijaiye, Oke-Ira; threatening lives and properties of residents in these areas. These were mostly attributed to unsustainable soil usage,” he said.
The commissioner stressed that the state government had continued to take proactive steps in stopping and reversing the trends over the years through regular, targeted tree planting exercises to forestall soil erosion, monitoring of degraded and erosion-prone areas, protection of wetland areas from indiscriminate reclamation.
He listed other measures as monitoring of sand mining and dredging activities including regular stakeholders consultation which would ensure compliance with sustainable and global best practices as well as identification of oil-impacted or contaminated areas specifically to conserve the state’s soil integrity.
“Soil management requires concerted effort from both government and the general public and it is for this reason that Lagosians are hereby enjoined to join hands with the government in ensuring wise use of the soil and the resources within it for sustainability purposes while shunning all acts that may be inimical to their natural use and functions,” he said.
He urged residents to eschew all activities that could lead to soil degradation and also encourage the society to conduct activities that improve soil health.
The World Soil Day is a United Nations International day set aside for the celebration of the soil, celebrated annually on the December 5.
