Environment
Jang Makes Case For Ecological Fund
Governor of Plateau Jonah Jang has appealed for the release of the special allocation from the ecological fund to help in rehabilitating the damages done to the state by years of mining tin and columbite.
The governor made the call while receiving the Presidential Youth Committee on Deregulation of the Downstream Sector of the Oil Industry which paid him a courtesy visit.
He said the state actually provided a substantial part of the fund used for the initial prospecting for petroleum in the Niger Delta in the 1960s.
Jang also recalled other major contributions made by the state to the nation’s economy.
Our correspondent quoted the governor as saying that, tin and columbite from Plateau had once sustained the country’s economy in the 60s and 70s.
Jang said that a new revenue allocation formula was long overdue and must be reviewed if the state was to get any substantial impact form the fuel subsidy removal.
“The Federal Government is sitting on 52 per cent of the revenue of the whole country and yet the nation’s population is in the state and local governments.
“It is sad that every year, the federal budget does not have any impact in Plateau State. The federal presence in Plateau is nothing; even the federal roads in the state are death traps.”
The governor said that this was in spite of the fact that the state had paid its due in striving to sustain the unity and prosperity of the country.
He argued that a fair share of ecological fund from the Federal Government ought to be made available to the state to ameliorate the effects of the devastations left behind by decades of mining.
“When this country became independent, Plateau Province was feeding the entire national economy with tin and columbite mining.
“The money used for prospecting the petroleum was from here (Plateau). But today, we are forgotten; we are left with devastated land instead with all kinds of dangerous ponds.
“These ponds are dangerous to humans in all respects. Because of tin mining, we are being inflicted with cancer of all sorts for men, women and children,” he stated.
Jang noted that the then government did not carry out environment impact assessment on the effect of the mining on the people and the environment.
According to him, recent researches have shown that mining sites and ponds have now become contaminated with radioactive materials which are dangerous to humans, animals and plants.
The governor stated further that water being taken in many villages and the sand being used in building houses were contaminated and had led to increased cases of breast and pelvic cancer in the state.
“All these are the prize we (Plateau people) paid for the country yet nobody is saying anything. Rather, we are being seen as a parasite when others had been parasites on us.
“If you look at revenue allocation to states, Plateau is among the least paid.
“Plateau State will even get near nothing out of proceeds of the fuel subsidy removal when shared according to revenue allocation,” he said.
The leader of the team, Dr Jophia Gupar, said that the team was in the state to enlighten youths on the gains of the fuel subsidy removal and to discuss the benefits accruable to Plateau in the Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment (SURE) Programme.
The Lagos State Government has commenced installation of new pumps at the Iju Headworks and Akute water intake stations.
The Tide source reports that the project is aimed at increasing water production, improving operational efficiency and expanding access to potable water across the state.
A statement issued by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) over the weekend said the project was approved and funded by the state government.
It said the installation was part of the rehabilitation of the Iju Headworks and Akute Intake Station under Lots 1, 2 and 3.
According to LWC, the rehabilitation is designed to modernise water production facilities, strengthen operations and improve public water supply.
The Network of Female Professionals in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Nigeria (FEMinWASH) and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) are set to partner on gender-responsive systems strengthening, capacity development and WASH initiatives.
The partnership was proposed during a courtesy visit by a FEMinWASH delegation, led by its President and Convener, Dr Boluwaji Onabolu, to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, in Abuja.
Onabolu, who conveyed greetings from FEMinWASH Patron, retired Engineer Ebele Okeke, commended Walson-Jack for upholding the Federal Civil Service’s EPIC values of Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-centred leadership.
She praised the HoCSF’s efforts in advancing gender inclusion in WASH and the civil service, including the development of the National Gender in Water Resources Mainstreaming Policy and mentoring programmes for women leaders.
Onabolu also highlighted the INSPIRE (Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women) programme, aimed at strengthening women’s leadership and inclusion.
She said FEMinWASH was seeking a formal partnership and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the OHCSF to support INSPIRE, WASH advocacy, capacity building and the institutionalisation of Gender-Responsive Budgeting across the Federal Civil Service.
Responding, Walson-Jack commended the diverse expertise of the FEMinWASH delegation, noting that professionals in WASH, water resources, environment, public health, town planning and education were critical to addressing development challenges.
She welcomed the proposed partnership, assuring that the OHCSF was ready to collaborate with FEMinWASH on civil service strengthening and WASH-related initiatives.
The meeting agreed to further engagements with Dr Garba, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), and Ms Funke Baruwa, Lead for Partnerships at the OHCSF, to advance the collaboration.
The visit ended with a photo session and exchange of gifts between both parties.
The Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, commended the community on the massive turn-out for sanitation.
He also appreciated the chairman and his team for their support to the ministry.
Rotimi-Akodu urged the community to continue to support the council and by extension, the government, by participating in the exercise and engaging in proper disposal of wastes.
“We have heard your appeal, and I assure you that Lagos government will do something about it.
“Although we have PSP operators in this axis, maybe they were assigned to other areas.
“However, I will ensure something is done and residents will observe the improvement.” the advisor said.
Also, the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LASMA), Mr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said that waste management was a collective exercise.
Gbadegbesin, therefore, appealed to the residents to always dispose of their wastes properly.
“You must bag your waste at home. Make sure you have a bin to keep the waste for few days, even if there is a delay by the PSP operator.
“Make sure you pay your PSP operator on time because there is no way they can provide that service if you are not paying them regularly.
The Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Go Green Nigeria Foundation, , has called for more stringent government efforts toward prohibition of illegal sand mining in Rivers, following erosion threats.
The founder of NGO Dr John Babington made the call on last Monday in Umuechem, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers, to commemorate the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems.
Babington, who sensitised the community on dangers associated with crude sand mining, donated some trees as part of efforts to promote tree planting and revitalisation of the altered mangrove ecosystem.
During an interactive session with the community, the environmental expert identified various concerns and commended residents for their willingness to work together to end the excavation.
He, however, dismissed the notion that illegal sand mining was due to poverty and unemployment, saying, ”the business is a capital intensive venture that could only be operated by a rich cartel.”
He said that though the business might have provided menial jobs for few youths, it had not in any manner addressed poverty.
Presently, the landscape is altered with an artificial river encroaching a major access road and threatening public safety,” he said.
Also speaking, a senior Chief in the community, Chief Gilbert Otamiri commended the NGO for the initiative and promised to collaborate with them.
Gilbert, however, urged the government to tackle unemployment which, he said, was a major promoter of the illegal excavation
Also speaking, The Community Development Chairman (CDC) Mr Agbam Mgbechi thanked the group for the sensitisation and donation of trees.
He called on the government and concerned induviduals to emulate the group by making efforts towards salvaging the area from further environmental damage.
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