Environment

Ogun Govt. Takes ‘Renew and Reuse’ Programme to Ipokia

By Web News 346

By Oluwatoyin Adegoke

Ogun State Government has flagged off its “Renew and Reuse Programme” in Ipokia Local Government, distributing renewed clothes and shoes to residents, as part of efforts to promote proper waste management and support the less privileged.

Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya, said the programme promotes proper waste management and human kindness by converting items considered waste into useful materials for others.

Represented by the Director, Environmental Quality Control, Water Regulatory Enforcement and Advocacy, Mr. Kayode Akinwande, Mr Oresanya, explained that the renewed clothes and shoes were donated by residents who initially considered them waste but were refurbished by the state government for others who could make good use of them.

The commissioner urged residents to donate unused items through collection boxes across the state instead of dumping them in waterways and drainages.

In a remark, the Ipokia Local Government Chairman, Mr Johnson  Avoseh, commended the state government and the Ministry of Women Affairs  describing the initiative as beneficial to both the environment and the less privileged.

Two beneficiaries, Madam Esther Akovoyan and Mr. Simon Gandonu, appealed to residents of the local government and the state to donate generously so that more less-privileged people can benefit from the initiative.

Ipokia Local Government became the third in the state to benefit from the Renew and Reuse distribution since the programme was launched last year.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels, and also join our WhatsApp Update Group.

Environment

Government Advises Residents in Flood Prone Areas to Relocate

By Web News 266

By Oluwatoyin Adegoke

Residents of flood-prone areas in Ogun State have been charged to relocate and adopt safety measures against flooding in view of experts’ prediction that some parts of the state will experience flash and urban flooding this year.

The Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya who announced this at the State Flood Alert News Conference in Abeokuta, said the warning was premised on the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook released by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NIMET.

The Commissioner also announced the government’s plan to construct proper drainage channels, mini bridges and culverts, in identified flood-prone areas across the three senatorial districts, as part of measures to address the situation.

He encouraged the people to take advantage of the newly introduced Drainage Permit, to guide intending businesses to appropriately discharge their stormwater into final discharge points and guide residents against building on flood plains and wetlands.

The Commissioner gave the assurance that the state would collaborate with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to resolve the age-long Isheri flood, pointing out that the comprehensive study of the drainage pattern in the area was ongoing.

In a remark, the Managing Director, Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, Mr Olufemi Odumosu who said the agency would focus more on structural measures to control flooding, promised that the water release would be properly controlled to suit the right purposes.

Mr Odumosu charged residents living in wetlands areas of the state to relocate to safer ground or create higher elevation within their residence before the full commencement of raining season.

Representatives of many Communities around Magboro, Ibafo, Oke- Afa, and Isheri along the Lagos – Ibadan expressway were in Abeokuta to witness the flood alert conference.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Health

Cholera: Ogun Ready for Showdown with Erring Table, Sachet Water Producers

By Web News 420

By Oluwatoyin Adegoke 

Ogun state government is to conduct compliance exercise on all table and sachet water factories in the state as part of measures to ascertain the causes of the recent cholera outbreak and to forestall re-occurrence.

Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya made the announcement during a stakeholders meeting in Abeokuta.

Mr Oresanya said the compliance exercise became necessary to address the environmental and hygienic negligence detected in the production processes which was in variance to their earlier certification by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.

The Commissioner noted that the compliance exercise was meant to reinforce and domesticate NAFDAC certification in all the twenty local government areas of the state, as the team would move to all water producing factories for on the spot assessment of their production processes. 

He called on the sachet water producers to support the compliance exercise as the state government was not out to witch hunt anyone, but safeguard the health of the residents from preventable water borne diseases as well set a healthy standard .

Responding, the Chairman of the Table Water And Beverages Producers Association of Nigeria, Ogun State Chapter, Mr Femi Olukoga pledged his members’ support for the exercise.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTubeChannels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Environment

Ogun Issues Stern Warning to Eatries on Pollution

By Web News 729

By Olusegun Folarin

Ogun State government has advised eateries and food outlets in the state capital to desist from their unhygienic pollution emanating from unwholesome practices within seven days

The Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya gave the advice after an inspection visit to the affected eateries and food outlets.

Mr Oresanya who expressed displeasure over their failure to comply with hygienic practices despite several warnings encouraged the owners of the eateries and food outlets to improve on their operational hygiene towards safeguarding their customers and residents of the state from the risk of food poising resulting from their present condition. 

According to Oresanya, it was discovered that accumulated fats, oils and grease and other food materials in a confined chamber were not scooped daily thus allowing their breakdown by microbes which releases toxic waste. 

The Commissioner for Environment noted that the state government would not hesitate to prosecute any eateries or food outlets for food poisoning if the need arose.

Mr Oresanya, assured that the state government monitoring team would continue to enforce the state sanitation laws and urged all eateries and food outlets to be on the right side of the law.

 .Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp

Environment

Work in accordance with relevant laws – Ogun Govt charges Industries

By Web News 550

Ogun State government has cautioned industries and commercial facilities operating with chemicals and other materials capable of degrading the environment against non-adherence to laws and regulations of the state.

Governor Dapo Abiodun gave the caution while declaring open the maiden edition of a workshop for chemical handlers and users on Abeokuta.

Governor Abiodun represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr Tokunbo Talabi explained that the training was aimed at improving the environment and enhancing a sustainable economy for future generations.

He called for responsible and responsive chemical management among the industrial outfits in Ogun State.

Governor Abiodun stressed that the state government would continue to strive to achieve safe air, water and land for the social well-being of every citizen.

Earlier, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya explained that the thirty-seven reported chemical accidents in Ogun State during this year would have been averted with training and adequate prevention procedures in place.

The commissioner said Ogun State would continue to abide by the National protocols of chemical handling and to further reduce chemicals found in the agricultural produce for exportation.

One hundred and fifty participants drawn from companies from within and outside Ogun State participated in the workshop with the theme, Chemical control and management, strategies to achieving sustainable development goals in the state.

Wale Oluokun

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTubeChannels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Environment

Govt Seals 2 Companies for Violating Environmental Laws

By Web News 475

Ogun State Government has sealed two companies, Build Well Plants and Equipments Limited and Katchey Laboratories for building on government canal and flood plain thereby causing excessive flooding and other environmental infractions in their immediate communities.


Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya ordered the sealing of the companies after an on-the-spot assessment tour of Magada, Redstar, Wemabod and Sparklight OPIC Estate communities where the companies committed the environmental infractions in the Magboro area of Obafemi-Owode Local Government of the state.


While Buildwell Plants and Equipments Limited were found guilty of building on a government canal and fencing it inward into their compound, Katchey Laboratories sand-filled a floodplain land and also fenced it thereby causing excessive flooding in the four communities.


In sealing the companies, Commissioner said the state government will not fold its hand and watch irresponsible and man-made environmental infractions by the two companies which had affected the well-being of residents of the communities.


“It’s disgusting to see Buildwell with built structures on government canals and more annoying is its enfontery of fencing the canal into its compound while Katchey sand-filled a flood- plain land and fenced it without caring on the environmental impact it will have on the property and living conditions it will have on thousands of residents nearby especially flooding”.


“The state government will not tolerate these infractions as a responsible government, the welfare of our people is uppermost than the pecuniary gains of few individuals as any company that infringes on the well-being of our people will see our other side” Oresanya added.


The commissioner further warned other companies that the state government will not tolerate any environmental infractions on their side saying the full wrath of the law will be visited on them.


To bring immediate relief to the communities, he said the state government will dredge all existing canals in the communities so as to increase their carrying capacities while other solutions will also be proferred soon after a stakeholders’ meeting between the state government, representatives of the sealed companies and other companies operating in the areas as well as their various Communities Development Associations, CDAs to find a lasting solution to the problem.


Responding, the Chairman of Magada Community, Mrs Deborah Olawepo who spoke on behalf of other communities thanked the state government for its timely intervention as the steps taken will serve as deterrence to others which will assist in reducing flooding issues in the communities to the bearest minimum now and in the near future.

Wale Oluokun

Environment

Ogun Govt. Organises Sanitation Seminar for Market Leaders

By Web News 620

Ogun State government has organised a mandatory Sanitation Seminar for market leaders and traders at Kuto and Oba Lipede markets in Abeokuta to improve cleanliness at the markets.

According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya the seminar is meant to train the traders on modern ways of trading in a cleaner environment especially now that emphasis is on public hygiene and safety.

The Special Adviser said shops and stalls are not to open during the seminar to enable the traders to concentrate on the training.

Mr Oresanya said the seminar will focus on practical methods of keeping markets clean, solid waste management disposal, eradication of rodents and pathogens as well as solutions to environmental infractions in and around marketplaces.

The special adviser noted that the Market Sanitation Seminar will be held regularly for all market leaders and traders in all markets in Ogun State.

Wale Oluokun

Environment

Ogun To Set Up Sanitary Advisory Council, Committees for Improved Waste Management

By Web News 676

Ogun State government is to set up a Sanitary Advisory Council for effective and efficient waste management reforms across the state.

The council which will be made up of waste management experts, chartered sanitary officials, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders in the sanitation subsector is to be chaired by the Commissioner for Environment or his designate.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, OGWAMA, Mr Ola Oresanya announced this after a meeting between OGWAMA Management and the Directors of Water, Environment, and Sanitation Departments in all the twenty local government areas of the state in Abeokuta.

Mr Oresanya explained that the step was aimed at seeking better understanding between various stakeholders in the sanitation sub-sector in the state and local governments for a cleaner, healthier and safer Ogun State.

The Special Adviser to the governor on environment noted that the advisory council in the state and committees in the local government would synergize to improve on sanitation advocacy and monitor the activities of Private Sector Providers, PSP, responsible for waste evacuation in various communities for optimal performance.

He said the bodies would also jointly monitor and enforce proper waste disposal and sanitation in all markets across the state for healthy trading and cleaner market environment while premises sanitary inspection would to be intensified throughout the state for healthy living.

The Director of Water, Environment and Sanitation in Abeokuta South, Mr Emmanuel Sodeke thanked the state government for the new initiative and pledged their support to make it a huge success.

Olusegun Folarin