In recent years, there have been calls for people to be more caring for their environment. This includes doing things that would help to protect and preserve the plant.
Over the years, the activities of man have destroyed the planet more than it has benefitted it and as the world continues to develop, it is expected that man would only continue to destroy the planet up to the point where there is nothing left. But it does not have to be so.
In the past, people never paid attention to the resources on the planet. This includes the vegetation, water, land, animals, and the resources under the soil.
But now, there is a greater consciousness among people, especially regarding the fact that these resources could be exhausted one day.
We have seen some species of animals go extinct. We have lost acres and acres of vegetation. The planet is slowly warming up (global warming), and so much more.
Even the natural resources we are slowly running out of. That is why we have to be careful that our development does not come at a grave cost, that is destruction of the planet. And the only way to achieve that is by being eco-friendly.Â
To be eco-friendly is to do things that are not harmful to your environment. This takes extra effort as most of the things we do harm the planet. In Nigeria, there have been calls for people to be eco-friendly.
Becoming eco-friendly is one of the best ways to improve environmental health in Nigeria. Sadly, most of us still see it as a thing meant for only the developed countries, partly because we feel we do not harm the planet as much and also because we feel we do not have what it takes to be eco-friendly. In other words, we see being eco-friendly as a luxury, but that is very, very far from the truth.
In this post, we would be looking at some ways you can be eco-friendly in Nigeria.Â
1. Dispose of refuse properly
The first place to begin is by being clean. Pollution is one of the things destroying the planet and one of the leading causes of pollution is indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
In Nigeria, it is not uncommon to see people recklessly throw away an empty PET bottle of soft drinks or biscuit wrapping. It is something we have come to regard as normal, unfortunately. The sad thing is that all these waste find their way to the gutters and block it, resulting in flooded streets.Â
Make the effort to properly dispose of anything when you are done with it, both big and small. Most states in Nigeria have waste collectors who come to get rid of the refuse from various parts of the state.
Properly organise your refuse to make it easy to be disposed of. If everyone does this, the streets would be cleaner and pollution would reduce.Â
2. Re-use things
The bag you brought from the market can be used two more times, so long it has not torn. Make it a habit to re-use things. From bags to clothes to bottles and more. The bottle of soft drink can be used to store water.
Rather than throw your old clothes away, give them to those who do not have. The point of re-using things is to throw fewer things away. There are tutorials online that teach you how to re-use a lot of things from cartons to nylons to glass bottles and more.
Shopping malls and retailers in Nigeria should also consider packaging their products in paper bags, rather than plastic bags.
3. Recycle
Recycling is not as hard or expensive as you might imagine. It can also be done locally, so long you know what you are doing. But you do not have to do it yourself.
There are recycling companies that can help you with that. Simply take your waste (glass, plastic, rubber) to these companies so it can be recycled and turned into something new.Â
4. Buy eco-friendly products
Rather than buy a purse or belt made from leather, buy one made from faux leather or another synthetic material. It does not necessarily have to be a fake product but some companies make belts from synthetic leather.
Instead of clothes with real fur, go for those with fake fur. Basically, buy things that are produced with synthetic materials, that way, you know that no animals were harmed or killed in making the product.
Always look for products that are eco-friendly when you are at the mall. You can search online for some eco-friendly brands in nigeria.
5. Use clean energy supply
It has been estimated that Nigerians burn an average of 48 million litres of petrol or diesel per day for electricity.
Opting for clean energy supply, such as from wind, solar and waste is a great way to be more eco-friendly in Nigeria. The use of modular solar-powered generating plants will make a big difference in environment, in a nation which is said to have 60 million petrol/diesel powered generating sets.
The Nigeria Energy Commission‘s mandate is to “ to ensure adequate, reliable, cost-effective and sustainable energy supply for the nation”. The commission is responsible for recommending the exploitation of new sources of energy for Nigerians.
There are other ways to be eco friendly in Nigeria, such as creating efficient transportation systems, and building better communities through environmental innovation.
6. Reduce deforestation and promote reforestation efforts
Forests play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the planet. They absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, produce oxygen, and provide habitat for a wide range of species.
In Nigeria, deforestation has been a major problem due to the expansion of agriculture, logging, and urbanization.
To protect the forests, Nigerians can reduce deforestation by supporting sustainable agriculture and forestry practices, using wood products from sustainably managed forests, and promoting reforestation efforts.
7. Raise awareness about protecting the environmental
The most important individual effort required for an average Nigerian to protect the environment is to inform others about the importance.
Raising awareness about environmental waste and the importance of reducing it can help promote eco-friendly living in Nigeria.
Nigerians can educate their communities about the environmental impact of waste, the benefits of recycling and composting, and the importance of reducing waste in their daily lives.
They can also organize community events such as clean-up drives and recycling campaigns to promote environmental awareness and action.
Bottom Line:
There are so many concrete reasons why Nigeria should be eco-friendly, and there are so many ways to be eco friendly in Nigeria. Nigeria is blessed with an abundance of renewable energy resources, however, there are a lack of technologies, a short supply of professionals, and no appropriate policies and regulations to ensure that is eco-friendly.
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Collins Nwokolo is a human physiologist, writer and health enthusiast. He loves writing helpful articles on health and fitness, which he enjoys sharing with everyone.
