By Dwelleth Morountodun
The Federal Government through the Ecological Project Office (EPO) has commissioned the Integrated Solid Waste Management facility in Lafia, Nasarawa State even as it stated that the project further demonstrates government’s sincerity of purpose in governance.
Speaking during the handover ceremony of the project to the state government, the Minster of Environment, Barr. Mohammed Abdullahi, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, said that the sustainable management of waste approach is aimed at global environmental quality, which is a prerequisite for a rise in per capita welfare over a period of time.
The President noted that the efficient management of waste is a global concern which requires extensive research and development works towards exploring newer applications for a sustainable and environmentally sound management.
“Research has shown that indiscriminate disposal of municipal solid waste is accelerating and is linked to poverty, poor governance, urbanization population growth, poor standard of living and low level of environmental awareness as well as inadequate management of environmental knowledge.”he added.
He stated that the project which was meant to check improper waste management and ensure sustainable environmental protection in the communities was one of the 18 ecological intervention projects approved by the President for the first quarter of 2020, and was awarded by the Ecological Project Office on 30th May, 2020.
According to him, the intervention will bring huge relief to Lafia city, which for a very long time has been faced with ecological challenges and will also reduce dangers to lives associated with waste management and environmental pollution.
The President urged the benefitting communities to jealously guard the project and ensure that the installed waste management equipment are not vandalized, adding that it would be their responsibility to maintain and sustain the facility.
In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa state, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Nasarawa State, Mr Mohammed Ubandoma, commended the effort of the federal government for the laudable project in Lafia town.
He said the delivery of the waste management facility is a great contribution to the efforts of the Federal Government in tackling environmental challenges and harvesting the economic benefits of turning waste to wealth in Nasarawa state and the country.
The Governor noted that environmental problems has become the front burner of Government policies and programmes, stating that “it is used to address the mirage of challenges by involving mechanisms towards solving environmental devastation.
“It is our hope and expectations that this project will serve as a panacea towards addressing environmental challenges.” he said
Sule, revealed that people living around the metropolis area of karo and Mararaba axis and other urban settlement were faced with the indiscriminate dumping of refuse with dire consequences which affect the health and wellbeing of the people.
He assured that the State Government will immediately put the project to effective use for the benefit of people and stated that steps would be taken to explore necessary public / private partnership with willing investors in order to replicate the plant model to reap the benefit of the project.
In his speech , the Commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in the State, Mr. Kwanta Yakubu, commended the Federal Government’s efforts at environmental sustainability in Nasarawa state.
He disclosed that the state Government, through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, had put in place policies, programmes and actions to tackle environmental challenges, especially, the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, the ban on production and the use of charcoal in commercial quantity and the operation Green Nasarawa state.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, EPO, Dr. Famous Eseduwo, said that the municipal solid waste management facility is an important part of urban infrastructure that ensures the protection of the environment and human health.
“It is therefore, in cognizance of the dire need to tackle the menace of solid waste in the country that the Federal Government approved this project for the community to ensure the safety of lives and environmental protection of its citizens as well as enhance improved and sustainable environment for socio – economic activities”, he said.
Dr. Eseduwo, also commended the project Contractor and Consultant who worked tirelessly to ensure timely completion of the project.
The Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage, (rtd), applauded the Federal Government and EPO for the intervention project approved and executed in the State. He thanked the SGF, Boss Mustapha and the former Permanent Secretary, EPO, Dr Habiba Lawal, for facilitating the timely completion of the project.
The District Head of Angwan Rere, Mr Abubakar Musa, also thanked the Hon. Minister of Environment for attracting the project to the State.
