Environmental Hygiene: KWEPA Seeks Traditional Ruler's Support
The Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA) in its bid to further rev up on its mandate in ensuring that every part of the state remain clean and free from epidemic has embarked on massive inspection exercise to Omu-Aran, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area.
The General Manager of the Agency, Alh. Sa'ad Ayuba Dan-Musa, during an official courtesy visit to Olomu of Omu-Aran, (HRM) Oba AbdulRaheem Oladele Adeoti, and his Council of Chiefs in his Palace, solicited the support of traditional rulers in the state on the agency' environmental hygine drive.
Addressing the monarch and his council of chiefs, Dan-Musa explained that the purpose of the visit was to acquaint the monarch of its official environmental inspection routine and to request his unflinching support towards making sure that every regulated premises within his community comply with Environmental Laws of the Agency.
He disclosed that environmental management and control service is a fundamental of the Agency (KWEPA) which must be extended to every part of the state to curb against all environmental related hazards which Omu-Aran community is not an exclusion.
"It is our mission, as our Agency's name implies, to always take preventive measures against any possible outbreak of disease; one of the cardinal responsibilities of which the led administration of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq has been giving the utmost priority", he said.
Ayuba also said that human and industrial activities, ranging from indiscriminate dumping of waste, open deification, gaseous emissions, effluent discharge among several others engender environmental hazards.
"The influx level of integration and the incursion of new industries coming up in Kwara state is quite commendable; yet worrisome, as it comes with its health disadvantages; it is against this backdrop our Agency requests your unreserved collaborative supports in order to curtail any environmental hazard this recent development could bring,"he said.
Dan-Musa, however, beseeched the monarchs to assist the government on its mission in combating environmental nuisance in their immediate community through allocation of dump site; a step capable of creating employment opportunity and source of boosting state revenue.
In his response, Oba AbdulRaheem Oladele Adeoti, appreciated the team's visit, saying that its mission and impact as government body in ensuring environmental purity in the state is well felt, while assuring the Agency his full support in the attainment of such.
The Olomu of Omu-Aran added that: "We are glad and your coming today is highly appreciated. As a retired environmentalist and custodian of land, I am aware of the fact that environmental issue is a continuum and all life encompassing. We know your worth and how you have been useful to the entire masses in the society".
Oba AbdulRaheem commended Gov. Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on his flofty vision on " waste to wealth" agenda while urging that the project be duly followed up to achieve its core purpose; also, that it won't be on the reversed end- "waste to death. Olomu off Omu-Aran, advised.
On the final note, Oba Adeoti , talking from experience, appealed to the State Ministry of Environment and its sub sects Agencies to keenly look into some of its areas of conflict and weaknesses: overlapping of functions, nonconservative policy/ implementation, inadequate follow up, staff strength, among several others, saying that these over the years served as major hindrances for successful attainment of its policy's goals.
The meeting was well attended by large numbers of Omu-Aran's Council of Chiefs, dignitaries in the town, KWEPA management staff, representatives of KWIRS and other important figures.
Alabere Ahmed,
Press Secretary,
KWEPA
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