Excessive Hot Temperature Can Lead To Health Hazard Says Environmentalist
By Julie Sylvia, Awka
Mr Daniel Ezeanwu, an Environmentalist, has called anambra state government to nip the causes of excessive hot temperature in the state to avoid imminent health dangers by its continued increase.
Ezeanwu who is a retired Permanent Secretary,State Ministry of Environment listed dangers of increasing temperature to includes desertification imminent over time, health hazards (meningitis, exhaustion, dehydration of body cells, eye problems, cancer of the skin, mental “cacophony.
Ezeanwu who made the call in an interview with Newsmen on Friday in Awka said that the South-East cities are also getting hotter than Northern cities and urged the governments of the states to verify his claim through the use of Google check.
He urged the governors to as a matter of urgent need confirm what the temperature currently reads for example: Awka, Kano, Sokoto, Bauchi and Maiduguri in comparison for days past.
Ezeanwu said that the excessive hot temperature in Anambra cities like Awka, Amansea /Okpuno and environs are due to reckless cutting down of trees and bush burning and maintain that these areas are hotter than kano,Bauchi,Maiduguri.
He attributed the causes of increasing temperature in the South-East to climate change, which may arise as a result of Cutting down of umpteen number of trees in the process of building houses, road construction, and crop farming.
He said that other factors includes reckless burning of bushes and forests, Destruction of natural watersheds, abuse of forest reserves: Illegal wood logging and partial/complete change of purpose of forest reserves.
Others are increasing vehicular and geneset Emissions, Incessant burning of solid wastes (particularly at dump sites). burning of umpteen motor tyres for removing the furs of cows and goats (particularly at Abattoirs).
According to him, there is hope to reclaim the environment from excessive hotness if Governments of the zone immediately put in place enforceable legal framework and matching Policy framework towards its reduction.
“Recommending and/or enforcing a minimum number of trees that must be in a compound (depending on the size of the compound).
“Enforcing planting of trees in every 40 feet on both sides of all roads in the States.
“ Fruitful collaboration among South-East States in crafting and implementing necessary interventions,” he said.
Ezeanwu also said that there is need to plan for replanting and for all the government agency meant to regulate the activities to be more committed in their jobs specification.
