Stakeholders in the environment sector have discouraged the habit of empting refuse into the drains as the globe marks World Ocean Day. An Environmentalist, Chief Constance Meju, said the act of dumping refuse in the drains has caused harm to the habitats of the water, thereby strengthening poverty and environmental crisis.
She said “For the Niger Delta woman the water, the River and streams are our source of livelihood, the sea food are very big essentials, the heavy pollution in the water waves the sea lives don’t thrive cause they choke the habitat, if you empty your dirty into the drain everything flows to the river from rivers to the sea and ocean and it’s dangerous it’s a habit we need to stop”.
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Director of Forestry, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Nkem Odoye, said tree planting would, on the other hand, help in strengthening and purifying the water body. “Trees help to purify the water. It helps to hold the ground to reduce erosion. Anywhere you plant trees or where you have rocks, mountains, and hills, if you want to experiment and put the trees that are on a hill, then we will start experiencing erosion,” she explained. The theme for World Oceans Day 2025 “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us”, emphasizes the ocean’s essential role as a source of sustenance.
