Nigeria to protect wetlands.

Nigerians have been told to engage in environmental friendly and sustainable environments to enjoy continuous yields and preservation of wetlands.

The Director, Technical Programmes, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Dr. Joseph Onoja, stated this in Nguru, Yobe State at the weekend.

He spoke at the NCF Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands Conservation Project (NCF-HNWCP) commemoration of the annual World Wetlands Day.

According to him, wetlands are among the world’s most productive environments very sensitive to pollution from indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

Onoja explained: “The wetlands’ productivity depends on the proper ecological functioning of wetlands, which is distorted by unsustainable and unfriendly anthropogenic environmental practices.”

Beneficiaries of the empowerment programme of NCF, according to a statement by its Director General, Adeniyi Karunwi, expressed gratitude for improved standard of living following training in mat making, beekeeping, fishing and production of fuel-efficient stoves.

The theme of this year’s edition was “Wetlands for our future: sustainable livelihoods.”