A non-governmental organisation has told Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State that, “the menace of environmental degradation ongoing in Ogun State, as a result of indiscriminate dumping of refuse around town is displeasing”
The group, Gateway Media Organization said the people of Ogun state wanted the new government of Abiodun to pay utmost attention to issues concerning environments, particularly the issue of waste management.
In a statement released in Abeokuta, the convener of GMO, Damilare Oloyede, charged those at the Ogun State Ministry of Environment to “up their ante in the issues of waste management, and make Ogun clean deservingly.”
“We need to charge those in the Ministry of Environment to sit up, up the ante and show concerted efforts in the issue of management of waste. Environmental degradation in our metropolis is too glaring and has constituted too much of embarrassment to us as citizens and residents of one of the most enlightened state”
“The Permanent Secretary and top management staff of the ministry of environment, the waste management agency, Ogun State Environment Protection Agency, OGEPA, must be summoned to swift actions,” he said.
Oloyede also disclosed that the GMO had embarked on “fact-finding public pulse gauging research” in the last six weeks, the result of which he said unraveled that Ogun State is lagging behind when it comes to waste management.
“In the last six weeks, our team has been in major metropolitan cities of Ogun state, we went on a fact finding public pulse gauging research, and we were warmly received by the people of Ogun state, who are expecting so much from the new government of Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR. With many commendation coming towards special attention the Abiodun government has given issues of education, that has swiftly returned Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ojere, the excellent approach to security issues, transport management new ideas, urgent road rehabilitations amongst others, the people of the state specifically raised eyebrows when it comes to environmental issues”, the statement reads in part.
“In Abeokuta, Ilaro, Ijebu Ode, Ogijo, Otta, Sagamu, Akute and Mowe, not a few expressed their concerns on waste management. Some even advised that the governor should instantly name a Special Adviser on Environment, who can communicate the ideals and ideas of the Abiodun administration to the civil servants in the ministry of environment”, the group stated.
GMO said, a resident of Obafemi Owode local government wanted the Abiodun government to urgently attend to their concerns in clearing heaps of refuse that litter the Mowe and Ibafo axis of Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
“One Dewunmi Balogun, who resides within Mowe, Obafemi Owode LG expressed her concerns about the issue of waste management, the young business lady asked that the governor should mandate officials to come and clear heaps of refuse that dot Mowe and Ibafo”, Oloyede said.
GMO further advised that just as the people wished, it is high time that a Special Adviser on Environment was named to steadily relate the direction of government with civil servants in the ministry of environment.
“We love to specially advise the governor of the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR to quickly appoint a Special Adviser on Environment, who understands the ideas and ideals of 21st century waste management, someone who will be on his toes to ensure a clean, healthy and sane environment”
“We sure know this government knows his onion, steadily the people of Ogun state are understanding the fact that governance is not noise making”, the statement concluded.
