NAN-AE-15
Environment
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, March 29, 2017 (NAN) Oyo State Government has expressed its readiness to collaborate with National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to ensure a sustainable, healthy and habitable environment that is attractive to investors.
Chief Isaac Ishola, the state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, gave the assurance on Wednesday when he received a delegation of NESREA officials in Ibadan.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State recently expressed the willingness of his administration to collaborate with any agency, group or individual in efforts to maintain a healthy environment.
The governor then warned residents to imbibe the culture of keeping their surroundings clean and healthy, adding that a clean environment would appeal to potential investors.
Ishola, while briefing his visitors, said that Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had reported that Oyo State was one of the states that would experience heavy rainfall this year.
He said that in view of the prediction, the state government had intensified its campaign to sensitise the residents to the need to keep their environment clean and safe.
Ishola noted that the mandate of NESREA in promoting healthy and sustainable environment could never be over-emphasised; hence the need for the partnership.
The commissioner said that the state government, in its commitment to promoting a clean environment, had inaugurated two mobile environmental tribunals.
According to him, the tribunals sit on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the premises of the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.
He said that the state Waste Management Authority had also begun the prosecution of sanitation offenders, stressing that the actions were not, however, aimed at inflicting hardship on the citizens or generating additional revenue.
“These efforts are to ensure the citizens’ compliance with the State Environmental Sanitation and Waste Management Regulations,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Gabriel Oguntola, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, commended NESREA and assured the agency of the ministry’s readiness to partner with it in efforts to improve the environment.
Earlier, Mr Obagiri Durotimi, Oyo State Coordinator of NESREA, said his visit was to officially introduce himself and seek a synergy with the ministry on salient environmental issues. (NAN)
TAA/MAS/OOK
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Edited by Moses Solanke and Dayo Komolafe