11th August, 2011
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti has appealed to the Federal Government to assist the state in finding lasting solution to the menace of gully erosion and other ecological problems facing the area.
He made the call on Wednesday in Abuja when he paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadija Mailafia.
Fayemi said some of the environmental problems presented to the ministry by the state government had been captured in the 2011 budget, while others were still awaiting Federal Government’s intervention.
He said the state government had embarked on waste-to-wealth project, and was also constructing three waste management plants.
Fayemi described the environment as ‘a viable sector’ that should not be neglected by any government, and commended President Goodluck Jonathan for selecting competent women to run the affairs of some key ministries, such as the Ministry of Environment.
He expressed the hope that the development would give impetus to the transformation agenda of the administration and engender environmental sustainability.
Responding, Mailafia urged the governor to ensure that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted before the construction of public utilities, such as schools and housing estates to avoid future environmental disasters.
“Environmental degradation is caused by a lack of proper planning by government and individuals who embark on expansion of projects without considering the future implication on the environment.â€
Mailafia commended Fayemi for embarking on the waste-to-wealth project, and expressed the hope that the implementation of the project would help to create job opportunities for unemployed youths in the state and ensure a clean environment.
She also decried the indiscriminate erection of mast near residential areas and schools by some communication companies.