6,000 people ‘come into Lagos every day’

Babatunde Adejare, Lagos state commissioner for environment, says not less than 6,000 people come into the state on a daily basis.

Adejare said this on Sunday at an event organised by the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES) to mark 2017 World Environment Day.

The theme of this year’s environment day is, ‘Connecting People with Nature’.

Adejare, represented at the occasion by Lukman Arjolaiya, principal scientific officer, environment services department at the ministry, promised that government will continue to seek best ways of conserving and connecting its residents to the environment.

He warned that if the state does not seek ways of re-connection with nature, the future generations of its people would be at risk.

“Every day, about 6,000 people come to Lagos and they have to be accommodated,” Adejare said.

“Years ago, the people in Lagos are connected to nature, but with the current population explosion, the state has lost that connection.

“Cities are centres of population explosion, ideas and engagements, so we must continue to find a way out.”

Adejare pledged that the ministry would continue to support activities that would encourage environmental practices and conservation.

Wasiu Anifowoshe, commissioner for physical planning and urban development, said the ministry needed the assistance of whistle blowers to ensure that residents reserve the compulsory 3 percent of land area for greening.

Represented by Kunle Salami, director of urban development department,  Anifowoshe urged the residents to monitor developments in their neighbourhood and alert the ministry of any misuse of building plans.

He said that the ministry would work with the environment ministry to ensure physical development in the state complemented good environmental practices.

Desmond Majekodunmi, managing director of at LUFASI Natural Park , said some trees in the park had existed there for over 25 years.

He urged Lagosians to cultivate the habit of mingling with nature.