Environmental activist and Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Dr Nnimmo Bassey has warned that there is a deliberate attempt by oil companies and governments to keep the world hooked on plastic and crude oil to the detriment of humans and the environment.

Dr Bassey made this observation in Benin at the organization’s School of Ecology on Arts and Culture, organized to mark this year’s World Environment Day and deepen awareness on the causes of Climate Change and proffer solutions to environmental pollution.

He called for huge taxation for companies involved in pollution of the environment insisting that “there is no reason why the big companies polluting our environment should go without paying a big tax for their pollution. We have a duty, which is inescapable, to advocate for a safe and clean environment where people can live in dignity to develop and grow their potentials. We also have a duty to inform policies and to advocate for policy changes.”

On the theme of this year’s World Environment Day, “Solution to Plastic Pollution”, Dr Bassey noted that the assumption that humans cannot do without plastics and crude are false and targeted towards further degrading the environment.

He explained that greed and love for convenience were responsible for poor waste management in Nigeria.

The guest speaker, renowned cartoonist, Mike Asukwo also warned that the survival of the human race depends largely on the preservation of mother earth and the environment.

He observed that governments in Nigeria are not looking at waste as a source of revenue through recycling, hence the nonchalant attitude and lip service paid to environmental health.

Asukwo said “the way forward is that the advocacy should be more vocal; should be stronger and more persistence. We need to keep speaking to the issues.”

He asked Nigerians to do everything possible to draw government attention to the dangers of climate change. 

This month edition of School of Ecology featured poetry, drama, panel session, etc, all geared at telling stories of the dangers of climate change.