ABUJA- Mrs. Priscilla Achakpa, Executive Director, Women Environment Programme (WEP),has said civil authorities should involve people in all ramifications of development.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen by WEP in Abuja .
She said “development is about people, and there can not be development when people are not centre of it”.
Achakpa said that embracing the true spirit of sustainable development entailed being committed to the dictum in tackling challenges of informal settlements.
“When government jettisons misconception about slums and begins to see them in a positive light, strategies and policies aimed at overcoming this challenges would be appreciated.
“This World Habitat Day as designated by the UN every year, is to reflect on the state of human settlement and the basic right to shelter,” she said.
She stated that there was need to raise awareness about the impact on environment, consequences and challenges of rising urban poverty.
Achakpa stated that the walk by WEP members and Federation of Urban Poor (FEDUP), was to raise awareness about the lack of harmony in cities and need to improve our urban environment.
She noted that 70 percent of people live in poverty, slums and informal settlements. “This means that the rich have access to good schools, health care, neighbourhood and acceptable transport.
“ While the poor are denied these very basic rights and amenities,” the statement quoted her as saying.
She noted that the World Habitat Day should serve as a reminder to the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat
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