Committed to the promotion of safe environment and healthy well-being of residents of the State, the Ogun State House of Assembly has called for the immediate registration of all trucks conveying wastes to dumpsites in the State as well as the formation of a tripartite Committee for effective operation of each of the dumpsites in the State.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Suraju Ishola Adekunbi gave the admonition during an interactive session with the State Commissioner for Environment, Bolaji Oyeleye, General Manager, Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, (OGEPA) Mrs Funmi Kuti, Chairman, Ado-Odo/Ota, Basiru Adeniji, his Coker-Ibogun Local Council Development Area, counterpart Gbadebo Oluwajuwon as well as Iju/Atan Ilogbo LCDA, Jamiu Ajayi at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan.
The Speaker, represented by his Deputy, Olakunle Oluomo also advised the Ministry to erect barricades at the entrance of all the dumpsites to ensure an effective control so as to help checkmate indiscriminate dumping of toxic waste from neighbouring States by unknown persons.
He explained that the Committee would consist of representatives of the State Ministry of Environment, Local Government Areas/ Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and the host communities of the dumpsites for proper internal control mechanism of the sites, saying the measures would assist in monitoring dumping of wastes through community participation in environmental protection.
In their separate submissions, Honourables Tunde Sanusi, Adebowale Ojuri and Akinpelu Aina, commended the Ministry for its efforts in protecting the environment, saying that the House of Assembly had also done its bit through the passage of some resolutions which include Polluter Pay Principle, Establishment of Dumpsites in each Local Government Council Areas and LCDAs, creation of Transfer Loading Stations, stressing the need to regulate and monitor the activities of those manning the dumpsites in the State towards ensuring effective waste management in the State.
In his remarks, Oyeleye who applauded the Assembly for their commitment and support to environmental preservation reassured that the State Government through the Ministry of Environment would put in place more mechanism to address the menace.
He noted activities of those companies and sources dumping wastes in the State were being monitored, assuring that effective monitoring mechanisms were put in place to ensure continued protectionof the environment.
Packaged by Hazeez Ayansola
