…says severe punishment awaits offenders of indiscriminate waste dumping
By Precious Oham
As part of measures to achieve sustainable economic growth, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources in Ekiti State, Hon. Tosin Aluko has said the state government will partner private sector on waste to wealth conversion.
Hon. Aluko made this known on Friday in Ado-Ekiti, when the Online Media Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Council, paid her a courtesy visit.
According to her, the Ministry will administer severe punishment on any citizen caught dumping refuse indiscriminately so as to serve as deterrent to others.
Her words: “We have invited PSP just to improve in our waste. We are working on how to make money from the waste, we are working on it. We are working on public toilets where we can turn the waste in our toilets where we can turn the waste to gas. It’s going to help our state alot.”
She noted that the Ministry has been magnanimous by applying human discretions whenever they arrest offenders but the story will no more be the same because the Residents of the state have been taking their considerable measures for granted.
Hon Aluko further lamented that despite the filial relationship the ministry has created with them, it is unfortunate that many are not helping the vision of Governor Biodun Oyebanji in his quest to keep Ekiti neat and tidy.
“When we were defending our budget at the ministry of budget for year 2024, we approached the ministry of budget and economic planning that we want to reactivate our mobile hubs, and they allocated some amount for us.
“We have to buy about 5 to 6 canopies, we put them at strategic locations and we make use of some security personnel. We will make use of the existing laws of environment, health and sanitation laws, waste management authority but it’s significant to note that these laws are not enough.
“Before the first quarter of 2024, we will have more arrangements on ground for prosecution. The 5,000 prosecution fee will be reviewed to 10k, and other necessary punishments so that they won’t do that again and it will serve as deterrent to others.”
Speaking on houses without toilets, she said the Commission has been sensitising the Landlords and Landladies, through jingles and radio programmes, adding that she will not stop until on her part things are done right in the state.
Earlier in his address, the 10-man team led by the chairman of Online Media Chapel, Comrade Ayodele Abere, advocated for media parley with the Commission, stressing that the online media has become the future of Journalism.
He expressed the readiness of the Chapel to project the activities of the Ministry, on the duo of originality and authenticity.
In her response, the Commissioner extended an olive branch to the chapel, while also advocating their support for Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration.