IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF WASTE IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE HEALTH – Citizens Scientists

…urges government, relevant authorities to recycle, regulate waste management laws

…as Unical Int’l Demonstration Sec. Sch. Embarks on Research excursion in Ibeno Beach

By Anietie Essia, Ibeno

Nigerian citizens and indeed the global community has been advised and cautioned to have a proper disposal of waste most especially plastic rubbers to reduce the rage of marine pollution caused by these plastic rubbers in the Nigerian beaches.

They stated that disposing of plastic rubbers within the terrestrial and aquatic environment is hazardous to both the human, environment and animal health added that plastics can undergo degradation by the action of heat, waves and tides during incineration process most especially when they stay long in an environment.

This was disclosed on Saturday at the popular Ibeno Beach in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State during a research and laboratory analysis excursion exercise carried out by University of Calabar International Demonstration Secondary School students to ascertain the level of negative effects of poor waste management in Nigeria.

Our correspondent gathered that the research work, laboratory experiment and the excursion exercise is sponsored by University of Calabar International Demonstration Secondary School in collaboration with faculty of oceanography and partnered with Partnership for the Observation of Global Ocean (POGO) happens to be their second excursion exercise to Ibeno Beach in Akwa Ibom State.

Led by Prof. Francis Asuquo, a professor of Marine Atmosphere and Coastal Research Network, faculty of oceanography, University of Calabar stated that their quest to embark on the research and excursion exercise is to allow the secondary school students have a diversify knowledge about the marine and terrestrial environment as part of their curriculum in school.

Prof. Francis Asuquo also stated that the research is critical in other to obtain information, collect scientific data which can be presented to the government, environmental regulatory bodies and the legislators for laws to be made regulating the alarming rate and the incessant plastic disposal in the Nigerian beaches and the world at large.

He added that the excursion exercise cum the research work will also create awareness on the negative impacts of plastic pollution amongst tourists on the beaches said the plastic debris can cause a harmful effect on the environment  containing a compound of chemically hydrated disease transferred to organisms during ingestion said, the molecules are potentially toxic and can accumulate in the body thereby hindering the growth or crops and photosynthesis in the agricultural fields.

The academic Don stressed that government and other regulatory agencies should as a matter of urgent public importance swing into action by making laws that regulates the improper plastic and other waste disposal most significantly in the Nigerian beaches as the chemical additives used during the production of plastics has myriads of harmful effects on humans and animals which causes cancers, birth defects, impaired immunity, imprisonment of animals in nets or large debris, mortality of marine mammals, turtles and birds during ingestion of the food chains of the marine ecosystem respectively.

“The most invisible impacts of plastic debris are the ingestion, suffocation and entanglement of hundreds of marine species. Marine wildlife such as seabirds, whales, fish and turtles mistake plastics waste for prey, and most then die of starvation as their stomach becomes filled with plastics.

“The primary sources are from inland waterways that flow into the ocean, direct dumping of solid wastes into the coastal waters and drainages, indiscriminate dropping by tourists during visits to beaches is very dangerous and should properly managed for the sake and benefit of our health system”. He said.

Speaking to our reporter, Master Vincent Fidelis, an SSS2 Student of the institution expressed dismay over the lackadaisical attitude of individuals and tourists in dumping plastic rubbers on within and around the beach side noted that it causes cancer and other health related issues to the animals which will also affect humans and the environment.

Master Vincent Fidelis opined that Nigerian beaches should be kept clean and neat regularly added laws should be enacted, executed and regulated, the menace of waste disposal and management will be arrested.

In their separate remarks, Miss Able-God Onda, Miss Agube Success and Miss Antonia Iya-Nya all researchers and students of the aforementioned Institution noted other countries are rating Nigerians in a negative way in terms of waste management which will affect tourist attraction by investors thereby marring economic growth and development in the ecosystem.

They maintained that improvement in recycling of waste management in Nigerian beaches should be revived and restored for public sanity and an immediate implementation of regulatory laws should made and defaulters should be punished according to the environmental laws which will serve as a deterrent to other members of the public.

They however urged all concern and patriotic individuals to take advantage of keeping their immediate environment clean in consonance to the African adage that says ‘cleanliness is next to Godliness’ while soliciting for the collective efforts and support from all spirited individuals, government officials and agencies towards ensuring that the Nigerian beaches are kept Clean in order to drive investment into the country by tourists.