We Are Ready To Turn Our Waste To Wealth - Chief Mrs Tosin Aluko

By Idowu Adebomi

A clean, beautiful and disease free environment is the bedrock of any 21st century society and Ekiti as a state is doing everything in her power to ensure the people of the state adhere strictly to environmental laws and policies that will ensure a more conducive environment. These are the words of the Honorable Commissioner for Environment Chief Mrs Tosin Aluko Ajisafe while playing host to the members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Online, led by its chairman, Mr. Ayodele Abere. Chief Mrs Aluko enjoined the general public to stop polluting the environment by desisting from dumping wastes in unauthorized places. The Commissioner maintained proactive measures are being by the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji regarding waste management and how to turn wastes into gain by converting it to energy She underlined the administration's efforts to create an atmosphere that will be conducive and habitable to the people of the state. According to her, the Governor of Ekiti in a bid to ensure a clean and healthy environment approved a trip understudy the Lagos State Waste Management Authority on how it is managing wastes and the systematic approach to modern waste management. " We have set out a lot of policies and we are going to partner with private sectors as well to help in keeping the state clean. There will be an up to date orientation and sensitization with the landlords while we will provide households with waste nylons and timely disposal of the wastes" Chief Aluko also disclosed that the Ministry of Environment is collaborating with more private sectors on waste collection as well as restoration of dino bins to about 20 strategic locations in the state capital. The Commissioner hinted on the need for beautification of medians with ornamental flowers to deter citizens from utilising them as dumping grounds and eventually adopt waste-to-wealth initiatives for more effective waste engineering management.

Regarding the implementation of environmental regulations, Chief Aluko revealed that recruitment of Environmental Health Officers is currently ongoing in order to increase the number of existing environmental health officers. Chief Tosin Aluko did not fail to emphasis the governor's dedication to the welfare of the populace by pointing to the proactive dredging of canals and drainages before the rainy season, which greatly decreased the spate of flooding- related fatalities. She also reiterated her commitment to implement better waste management measures and urged the good people of Ekiti to support government's efforts by managing waste properly and keeping their neighbourhoods clean to prevent unwarranted epidemics. Hon. Aluko admonished the visiting journalists to cooperate with the Ministry as well as other MDAs in the state for prompt information dissemination and management. She advised them to make sure that their platforms only publish fair reporting and fact-checked articles. The Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Online Chapel, Mr. Ayodele Abere applauded the commissioner for her prompt response after assumption of office, noting that the chapel will give the ministry its maximum cooperation. The team also recommended more stiffer penalties for offenders of Environmental laws. Present at the meeting were Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Babatunde Alokan, General Manager, Ekiti State Waste Management Authority, Engr. Ayoola Osalusi, Director of Administration and Supplies, Mr. Musa Adeyeye and Director of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Mr Tunde Balogun.