Harmattan: Environment expert warns against bush burning

Residents of Ikole-Ekiti and Ikole local government areas have been warned against setting fire on bush without monitoring
it just to hunt for bush-meat.

Mr Tunde Famuyisan, the Head of Environment Department in Ikole Local Government Area,  gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ikole-Ekiti on Thursday, stressing that “the harmattan season is windy and can spread fire very fast.”

According to him, the act of bush burning during harmattan can pose danger to lives and property.

He said “I am advising Ikole-Ekiti residents, especially the young ones to be wary of how they set fire on bush to hunt for bush meat.

“Bush burning at this period can destroy lives and property and pose danger to healthy living.

“Do not destroy farmlands because of bush-meat; we are agrarian in nature in this state,” Famuyisan said.

He added that officials of the department would intensify enlightenment campaigns on hazards associated with the harmattan period across communities that made up the local government.

“Our officials will be out to sensitise residents on the danger of careless bush burning at this period.

“When people burn their refuse, they should ensure that they monitor it, so that the fire does not spread to other places to destroy property or farmlands.”

He warned that defaulters would be arrested and be made to face the wrath of the law.