Two non-governmental organisations, Clean Coast Nigeria, CCN and  Ocean Conservancy, will on Monday, September 24, flag off a week long cleaning of parts of the  Lagos coastline.

The NGOs will also use the exercise to educate residents of the neighbourhood on issues bordering on the impact of pollutants, especially marine debris in coastal areas.

Friends  of the CCN will offer information and inspirational solutions to the public about the increasingly alarming environmental challenge posed by marine pollution.

“With rising waters due to climate change and global warming, there is evidence to show that, in the event of an ocean surge, what is usually left on our shores and land when the waters recede is marine debris. Comprising of different thrash, they litter the environment, entangle and kill fish and other marine organisms as well as poison them.

“This debris is in most cases made up of plastic materials, computers, car parts and logs of wood. How do you think local people get rid of these thrash? They burn them. This burning adds to gases that affect the world’s climate,” a Research Officer with the Nigerian Institute For Oceanography and Marine Research in Lagos, Lt. Renner Kofi Omare was quoted as saying in the latest edition of EnviroNews.

He pointed out that the event, which has “Marine Debris and Me” as its theme, aims as encouraging local communities, corporate entities and government covering school children, and environmental stakeholders to speak about marine debris and how it affects Nigeria.

“Clean Coast Nigeria is taking this initiative from its mother body Ocean Conservancy, in line with Lagos State Government’s drive to reduce and protect our environment as seen by the presence of LAWMA and other state officials who make an attempt to keep our beaches clean.

“This Campaign aims to protect our environment from the harmful intrusions and damage caused by the effects of waste indiscriminately dumped along our coastal waters and posing avoidable serious health issues and environmental hazards to our communities.

“The beach cleanup event will take place on Saturday, September 29, 2012, and is aimed at promoting awareness-raising initiatives among all levels of society, from government, industry and educational institutions, to community-led initiatives, grassroots organisations, and the decisions of individual households and consumers.”