By Abiose Adelaja Adams

The Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, has called for concerted efforts by the new government in Nigeria to tackle the restoration of our environment as a way of improving the people’s well-being and giving a new vision of citizenship.

“Until we see what we term natural resources as actually the gifts of nature that require a stewardship relationship, we will continue on the destructive and obviously unsustainable path,” said Director of HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey.

He cited the pollutions in the Niger Delta, the Lagos Lagoon, abandoned tin mines in Jos and the deadly mining wastes of Zamfara as enormous problems.

“Today we call to mind also that the United Nations has declared 2015 the Year of the Soil.  The soil is indeed the base of culture and life generally. Our attitude to the soil contributes immensely to our well-being. Degraded soils support degraded lives. Thus, when citizens are forced to live on degraded soils and environments their right to life and well-being is heavily degraded,” he added.

In a statement released to mark the World Environment Day, HOMEF said, “A safe environment will help to put Nigerians back to work and kindle the spirit of innovation, solidarity, care, respect and dignity of labour.

Every year, the United Nations sets aside the 5th of June as World Environment Day (WED), to create a tornado of awareness across the world on environmental issues. For each WED, a specific theme is chosen and stakeholders in over 100 countries create a network of positive environmental actions.

This year’s World Environment Day themeed, “Seven Billion Dreams: One Planet, Consume with Care,” could not have been better chosen concerning the state of planet today.

WED is the vehicle that pools together tiny drops of environmental action to form a mighty ocean to drive environmental policies, campaigns and changes throughout the planet.

Bassey added: “The sharp and concise theme is not trivial because beneath the simplicity lies a very important note of caution; we have only one planet and it is our minimum responsibility to curtail our culture of consumption.”