World Environment Day: Nyako warns against forest destruction

Yola – Gov. Murtala Nyako of Adamawa on Wednesday warned  people of the state to stop wanton destruction of  forests  through indiscriminate felling of trees, and brush burning,  to check desert encroachment.
Nyako gave the warning on the occasion to commemorate the 2013 World Environment Day in Yola.
“People must stop the wanton destruction of our green forests through indiscriminate felling of trees and brush burning.
“They should imbibe the habit of planting appropriate trees to check  desert encroachment and improve substantially the desired eco-balancing of our environment.”
The governor, who was represented by the state Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Musa Kaibo, also warned that government would not take it lightly with any person or groups that threatened the environment.
He stressed the need for collaborative efforts to check Green House Gas emission, deforestation, and pollution to control the danger of global warming.
“We should do whatever it takes to make our world safer for habitation and for aesthetic consideration.”
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Environment, Mrs. Arziki Sawa, said that the essence of the celebration of the 41st anniversary of World Environment Day, was to demonstrate to the citizens that the present administration was ready to tackle the environmental problems facing the state.
“This year’s celebration and campaign requires the people of the state to take action from their respective homes on the type of food they produce and eat, to minimise the environmental impact.”
She urged the people to purposefully select food that had less impact on the environment such as organic food that did not contain chemical in the production process.
The commissioner expressed concern that the northern part of the state had been identified as prone to desertification due to the loss of its vegetation resulting from wood exploitation.
She said seven local government areas were already marked as flood-prone areas due to effects of perennial flooding of Lagdo Dam in Cameroon and River Benue.
The areas include Fufore, Girei,Yola South, Yola north, Demsa,Numan and Lamurde local government areas, respectively.
She said that the state Ministry of Environment was making efforts to improve environmental protection services and waste collection disposal. (NAN)

Bus explodes in Yenagoa

Traffic on the Isaac Boro Expressway was Wednesday reduced to a crawl for over 50 minutes after a bus conveying soft drinks suddenly caught fire.
The incident occurred at about 11.30am.

Though the fire triggered panic on the busy route but no one was injured.
The blaze showed billowing clouds of black smoke from the bus and caused  traffic jam  for miles as the driver and his conductor and other sympathizers watch helplessly.
The ill-fated bus, a Mitsubishi 300 was filled with crates of soft drinks and other beverages was approaching the popular roundabout close to the Five star Tower Hotel project linking the Sani Abacha expressway, Azikoro town and the Ox Bow Lake area of the capital when it exploded into flame.
This reporter who arrived the scene about 15minutes after the fire starter noticed car owners making frantic efforts to get away from the blazing bus.
The driver, who simply gave his name as Uche and his conductor escaped unhurt.
He said he heard a couple of pops before the entire bus went up in flame.
Uche who was in shock told Vanguard that he was at a loss as to the cause of the inferno said but for his closeness to roundabout which necessitated his slowing down the bus could have burst into flame while he was on speed.
As at the time this reporter left the scene to file in his report the bus was still burning and men of the state fire service were yet to arrive the scene.