An environmentalist, Mr Habib Omotosho, on Friday urged the health departments of local government councils and communities to collaborate in checking arbitrary discharge of industrial waste in their neighbourhoods.

Omotosho, who is the National Coordinator, Environmental Advancement Initiatives, an NGO, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

“The health departments and the affected communities should be strengthened to monitor industries so as to curb industrial pollution in their localities before much damage is done to the health of innocent people."

“With growing industrialisation, so many chemicals are being indiscriminately disposed off in various communities across Nigeria."

“Such communities can be located in the Niger Delta, River Kaduna area and around Bompai Industrial Area, Kano,’’ he said.

Omotosho said that issues concerning waste disposal by industries should be handled by local government officials who knew their surroundings very well.

He called for an increase in the number of environmental health officers engaged by the three tiers of government in order to meet the international standards.

He said that if these measures, among others, were adopted, they would save the society from the menace of pollution-related diseases which could be easily prevented.

Besides, Omotosho underscored the need  to create adequate public awareness on sound industrial waste management procedures in the country for the benefit of industrialists and the general public.

“In capitalist societies such as Nigeria, creating environmental awareness among the teeming rural population with low literacy levels is the best option to address the growing menace of environmental pollution."

“This can be achieved by organising workshops, conferences and seminars as well as the use of the mass media,’’ he said.