The Lagos State Government on Wednesday expressed its commitment to educating residents of the state on the importance of protecting wetlands and restoring degraded environmental ecosystems.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources, Joe Igbokwe, said this at the University of Lagos, Akoka, during an advocacy programme on wetlands and biodiversity conservation for Lagos East Senatorial District.
He said, “This advocacy will help in restoring degraded wetlands, protection of identified wetlands and restriction of human activities on wetlands areas, as well as encouraging the government, organisations, communities and individuals to commit to proactively improving wetland management.”
Bello explained that the government had commenced activities to protect wetland areas in the state.
“The government is committed to protecting the wetlands, not only because it is habitat to a wide range of species of plants and water animals, but also to sustain the livelihood of millions of people that depend on them for survival.
“Some of these activities include identification of all wetland areas in Lagos State, erecting sign posts in all identified wetlands in the five divisions in the state, monitoring of all wetlands to prevent further encroachment and developing both Yafin and Itoikin wetlands into a potential tourism centre,” he added.
Source: Punch NG
