By Kingsley Adegboye

IN order to reduce emissions from automobiles and generating sets in Lagos, an environmentalist Dr Newton Jibunoh has called on the State government to expand the operations of Bus Rapid Transport BRT, saying this would assist in ridding the city of of the menace of smoky vehicles which constitute the major cause of pollution and degradation  in the mega-city.

Dr Jibunoh who is the founder of the Fight against desert encroachment FADE Africa made the call last week at a debate organised by Foundation For Better Environment FABE in conjunction with Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency LASEPA to mark this year’s World Environment Day, WED.

Students of the Moshood Abiola University, formerly  University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Yaba College of Technology, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education and Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka debated on the topic “Green Economy: Does It Include You?’’.

Jibunoh noted that until something is done to check the menace of Okada riders and generating sets, Lagosians will be taking 10 steps backward and five steps forward.

The FADE boss who advised Nigerians to imbibe the culture of walking, cited  Kenya as a country where people take to long walks as fitness exercise.

‘’In Kenya, you see people trekking distance between say Ebute Metta and Lagos Island. Many Kenyans take part in this long trek and that is why they excel in long distance races. But here in Nigeria, we prefer to use vehicles to cover the slightest distance and this is not helping the individual”, he said.

Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Mrs. Titi Anibaba said that the debate was the first step in the efforts  to involve students of tertiary institutions in the bottom-up approach to environmental management in the state.

According to Bello, youths, especially those in higher institutions are change agents and potential crusaders of the environment whose energy and resources must be enlisted in the struggle for safe and hygienic environment.

FAME founder and Miss Environment between 2006 and 2008, Miss Temitope Aderibigbe said the NGO which was founded in 2007, is to pioneer a new revolution for environment through restoration of consciousness and attitudinal change of youths in Nigeria.