By Elizabeth Uwandu

Lagos—The recent global warming and its implications to Africa largest economic hub, Lagos state, formed the kernel of Prof. Ayo Omotayo’s presentation tagged,’” Are we living in a dying earth,” at the 56th  Lagos State University Lecture series under the chairmanship of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lanre Fagbohun, held on Tuesday.

The Professor of Geography and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences shocked his local and international audience when he said that the world would end owing to its misuse.

Listing deforestation; desertification ,  unabated urbanization, and exploitation of the rain forest, ozone layer destruction, use of hydrocarbons among others to be factors man engages in which if care was not taken would result in severe consequences.

His words; “ Consequences of the above are found in overcrowding, over-population, lack of water, sanitation and health (WASH), poor environment upkeep, water and air pollution leading to degradation.

‘’This might make the world come  to an end certainly if we continue to assail the earth as we currently do.”

Highlighting some of the above factors, the varsity don  said ; “ All over  the forested zones of Nigeria, as in other parts of the world, several acres of forest have been laid bare by the actions of man in his quest to satisfy several of his wants. In Nigeria alone, we see that only about 10% of nearly 10 million hectares of pristine forest land remains.”

The erudite academic however listed measures to control climate change occasioned by global warning.

These include: Clearing of coastal inlets, dredging of tidal inlets, green and other soft solutions and modification of land-use policies, especially at water fronts.

He also listed integrated waste management  processes and environmental sustainability as key response and the implementation of the Goal 7 of the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs  to help restore and replenish the earth and her abundance resources.