The Commissioner for Environment and sustainability, Engr. Jonathan Lawani, has appealed to Oluku residents in the State to support the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration’s commitment to have a clean and healthy Edo State.
Lawani who was represented by the General Manager, Waste Management Board, Mr. Charles Imariagbe, made the appeal during the sensitization program organized by the ministry at Oluku Community Town Hall, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The community engagement program which was tagged “Prioritizing Environmental Best Practices for Sustainability Through Pollution Control, Proper Waste Disposal and Greening,” had in attendance Community Heads, Heads of Department, Environmental Health Officers, shop owners and market women.
Lawani said it was time for residents in the State to change their attitude towards environmental issues, adding that unhealthy environmental practices lead to sickness and possibly death, in some cases.
He maintained that the effects of Climate Change currently ravaging the world were as a result of the unwholesome practices of individuals, hence the need for residents to be committed to having a clean and healthy environment.
In his remarks, the Acting Chairman and Head of Local Government Area (HOLGA), Ovia North East Local Government Area, Matthias Ahonsi, who identified Oluku as a gateway to other parts of the country, said it is important that residents change the narrative of Benin City as a dirty State by ensuring that their communities are clean and green.
Ahonsi urged residents of the communities, especially vendors at the toll gate to always clean their business premises after the day’s activities.
The Okaighele of Oluku Community, Mr. Osazee Uwaifo, while commending the Ministry for the sensitization, appealed to the State government to enforce environmental laws to ensure compliance.
Mrs. Blessing Egharevba, Director of Environmental Quality Management Services, assured residents of the government’s resolve to ensure the State is clean.
In his lecture on Sanitation and Waste Management, Mr. Edward Uwugiaren, Assistant Chief Scientific Officer of the Department of Environmental Quality Management Services, said residents need to engage in healthy practices.
He further charged them to dispose of waste at designated points, have good toilet facilities and channel wastewater to the appropriate point.
High point of the program was the inauguration of a 10-man Committee of Action Groups and Enhancers (CAGE) with a mandate to monitor the level of compliance to environmental issues in the community and report perpetrators to the ministry.
