Will You Protect Your Environment?

Have you ever seen a headline that starts off like this?

Teenage boy swept away by flood…

Well, I have and it hurts to know that a child lost his life like that.

It makes me wonder, “Why do our roads get so flooded during the rainy periods?”

Is it simply that the canals got too full or that the rubbish Lagosians refused to put in their bins ended up clogging the drains and causing floods?

Over the years, we have had a rough idea of how the weather in Nigeria came and went. From January to February, we usually see the Harmattan Season followed by March to April which is dry having a high temperature and low humidity. The rainy season picks up from May till July with June having the most rain.

Then, from late July till early August is the August Break which gives us a slight break from the rains. Coming back ending of August till October is the rain while the dry season resumes from October till December. And between late November to December is when Harmattan arrives.

Now, shouldn't government agencies like Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) ensure that precautions are carried out to prevent misfortunes like this from happening?

Whether there is dry or rainy season, we need to ensure people are protected, and that they are safe within such times.

During the Dry season, water supply is crucial to fighting against dehydration for everyone whether rich or poor. And, access to clean drinking water is not just essential but a human right.

During the rainy season, measures should be put in place to ensure that the drains do not get clogged with rubbish. This means that more dustbins or large containers for waste disposal should be made available.

Also, the canals should be cleaned of plants and debris so that there is more space for the water to flow when it rains.

I believe that putting danger signs around the canals would make people aware of the danger. It would also be good for the government to raise the margins of the canals so that people cannot fall inside and get easily carried away by the flood.

Taking these into account would go a long way in preventing deaths as a result of heat-stroke or drowning in floods. And, I look forward to the time when the government will take this sort of initiative in ensuring the safety of its citizens.

Over time, the seasons keep changing to a point that they no longer come at the moment or month they should. This shift, this change is something each one of us should be aware of.

So, what can you do?

• Don’t throw garbage on the ground. Rather, throw them in bins nearby or hold on to them till you reach a bin,
•  Keep your environment clean by sweeping it regularly. That debris in your home could one day get on the street, so clean it up, and
• Ensure you tell others around you to stop littering the roads and why they should stop.

For our safety, the environment needs to be a priority. We need to take good care of it so it can protect us in the future.

Now I ask,

Will You Protect Your Environment?