The Ondo State Government has pledged its commitment to ensuring that the state address the menace of plastic pollution across its 18 local government areas.
While speaking at the Ondo State Environmental Protection Agency Summit 2022, the special adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Environment, Oyeniyi Oseni stated that the vision of the summit is to develop appropriate technologies for the creation of a sustainable environment.
According to him, the agency is poised to formulating environmental strategies for the protection, preservation and restoration of the state’s ecosystem as well as monitoring and mitigating pollution impacts.
He also commended the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.SAN for his immense contributions to ensuring the effective operations of the agency in the State.
” I commend your efforts, passion and vision on security of our people and also the laudable achievements in environment particularly the resuscitation of OSEPA as well as the procurement of two additional Amphibian Excavators to address the scourge of seasonal flooding in the State, the ongoing dredging activities in the Coastal area, the constitution of the Forestry Management Committee and support for the REDD+ Project are all testaments to Mr. Governor’s commitment to promoting Climate Change support initiatives. All these and many more, by all standards, qualify him as Climate Change Ambassador.” he stated
Oseni also highlighted some of the achievements of the agency, which includes: Public enlightenment through Advocacy campaign on environmental protection and preservation; Successful hosting of Stakeholders’ Forum with commercial and industrial sectors;
Partnership with Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) on regular data gathering and information sharing; Management and control of inappropriate effluent discharges in production companies; Control of noise pollution in the industrial, commercial and other regulated premises; Prompt response to public complaints on environmental infractions; Ensuring compliance of industries to the conduct of Environmental Assessment/Audit and use of Best Available Technology/Clean Energy process in their operations.
Also at the summit was the secretary to the state government, Princes Oladunni Catherine, according to her,plastic waste is now one of the biggest environmental scourges of the time and there’s an immediate need for both the public and private sector to urgently address the situation.
She also reiterated the commitment of the Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.SAN led administration to ensuring that the right and necessary policies are formulated and executed in order to protect the environment from the ravaging effect of plastic pollution.
The official website of the Ondo State Environmental Protection Agency was also launched at the summit.