…From Bode Durojaiye

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District in Oyo State, Dr. Yunus Abiodun Akintunde , has called on the Federal Government to always utilise research works of reputable scholars in enhancing the country’s development.

He made the call last Saturday while speaking Exclusively with our Correspondent shortly after a roundtable forum organised for both the Federal and State Legislators by the Oyo Global Forum ( OGF) in Oyo town.

Senator Akintunde appealed to government, scholars and academic community to always involve traditional rulers in academic discourse and latest research findings, especially on ecology and environment.

He stated that such would keep the royal fathers informed of latest researches and findings and help them in advising their people accordingly..

Decrying the dearth of a regulated ecosystem had impeded both the ecological and economic development of the country, Senator Akintunde said the situation was as a result of poor management of human activities on the natural environment.

“It is disheartening that most rivers have gone dry, blocked or polluted with aftermath effects like flooding through human activity of dropping refuse in flowing rivers.

“Most of the food we eat today are from inorganic sources, therefore, making us live unhealthy lives.

”Many animals of the past have been killed through bush burning and other erroneous human activities,” he said.
The monarch said that the lecturer had made his audience to understand that the killings witnessed in some parts of the country was as a result of Sahara desert encroachment”, Akintunde stressed .

Senator Akintunde pointed out the urgent need for the revitalization and upgrade of national laws on wildlife and forest conservation in Nigeria .

He also urged State Governments to create more farm settlements and villages across the country as they are potent solving-tool of major socio-economic problems.

He stated that climate change as caused by human activities had negative impact on the environment with serious repercussion on livelihood.