….. Over 30,000 residents given direct employment
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello on Thursday affirmed that the present administration has stabilised and restored confidence to the Environment sector.
Bello spoke at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, during 2nd Year of Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu administration’s Ministerial Press Briefing by the Environment and Water Resources Ministry.
He added that at the last count, over 30,000 direct new jobs have been created in the environment sector through LAWMA with several thousands of indirect as well.
The period under review has also seen the acquisition of 210 new Compactors by the PSP operators who have also employed over 8,200 people with the number of the PSPs growing from 350 to 437 ”
He stressed that in line with the THEMES Agenda, waste generation and disposal processes have been reinvigorated through circular waste recycling.
He explained that the process will reduce the amount of waste generated and transported to the landfills sites which are getting filled up already.
He said that the Ministry has constructed a Recycling Bank within the Ministry of Environment complex and has also been promoting the establishment of Recycling Banks in the Government Built Estates across the State.
Bello said as part of climate change mitigation efforts of the present administration, many new parks and gardens have been created while landscaping and beautification of new sites have continued.
He added that LASPARK is also partnering the private sector with its adopt a Park Policy through which the OPS are encouraged to adopt and brand sites, parks and gardens.
He said further that the Agency also commissioned a mini effluent treatment plant used to treat waste water and has recorded a remarkable achievement in the fight against noise pollution from social clubs and religious organizations.
He emphasised that Lagos has moved from the notoriety of a flood ravaged coastal city to one with cleaned, dredged and free flowing drainage channels all year round.
He said contracts were awarded for construction of new drainage channels in 47 strategic locations in the state, with work at 12 locations 100% completed, 17 at above 80% and 18 at above 50% completion.
Under the maintenance and dredging of Primary Channels Programme, a total of 42 Primary Channels cleaning and dredging contracts were awarded across the state, according to Bello.
He said another 192 Secondary Collectors drains spread across the 20 Local Government Areas of the State have been cleaned up.
Bello informed that to promote safe and healthy living of the citizenry and with massive support from the World Bank, 6 Air Quality Control Monitoring Stations were commissioned in six locations across the state.
“The EFAG Gang has carried out routine maintenance, cleaning and emergency deflooding interventions on approximately 307 km length of both Tertiary and Secondary Drains all over the State in the last one year” he disclosed.
Bello reports that 1663 contravening structures were identified in some Local Government monitored for contravention of drainage alignments and setbacks while removal has commenced with about 84% completion.
“The State Signage and Advertisement Agency launched the 2021 Mobile Advert Stickers to enhance a more effective regulatory process for mobile advertisements”, Bello said.
He said as part of Covid-19 containment measures, the ministry intensified the disinfecting of schools, public institutions and highways regularly.
He said that the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) arrested 2,858 people comprising illegal Traders, Hawkers, Highway crossing defaulters, environmental polluters and cart pushers out of which 294 persons were prosecuted according to the State Environmental Laws.
To improve on the supply of portable healthy water to the citizens, Bello imformed that the State through the Lagos Water Corporation has recorded 85% completion at the ongoing construction of 70MGD (Million Gallons per Day) Adiyan II Water plant.
He said negotiation has been completed with Ogun State Government on the ceding of Right of Way for Reticulation/laying of pipes for the Adiyan Phase II project, adding that laying of pipes have commenced.
Signed
Kunle Adeshina
Director (Public Affairs)
MOE &WR
April 29, 2021