Environment
Mark Urges Equity On FERMA Projects
The Senate President, David Mark, has in Abuja appealed to
senators, especially chairmen of committees, to ensure that projects included
in budgets were representative of the entire country.
Mark made the appeal while reacting to an allegation by Sen. Ita Enang (PDP-Akwa Ibom) that the 2012 budget of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) was skewed to favour only one zone.
The Senate president said although he had not seen the
budget, if Enang’s allegations were true, the senators were not being fair to
the rest of the country.
He said every senator is a senator of Nigeria. “If you are a
chairman of a committee, you must also know that there are other senators who
are chairmen of other committees.”
“We must be fair, and we must ensure that there is justice
and that there is equity. I don’t know what they have advertised, but if it is
skewed in one direction, it is not correct.
“It must be representative of this country. That is what the
Senate is all about,’’the Senate president said.
Enang had earlier observed that the FERMA budget was
lopsided as all projects for road construction were centred in only one state.
He said Federal Road
Maintenance Agency (FERMA) was not
representative of this country. It starts almost in one state and ends in one
state.
“The roads start mostly in the South East and are
concentrated in Enugu State. I’m sorry to say this, and that should not be done
in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I am saying this from what is on record,’’ Enang
emphasised.
He had advocated that the budget of FERMA be stopped
immediately, and the money for road projects be shared to the zones.
“Let Enugu State alone not take the money that belongs to
the entire country. Mr President, I want us to even dissolve FERMA because it
is not doing what it is supposed to do.
“One person alone has the opportunity to write the budget,
he diverts everything to his village and starves the entire country.
“This is not the purpose of federal character. Even the
village of the Senate President is not captured in the FERMA projects, ’’he
said.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Sen. Ayogu
Eze (PDP-Enugu) had, in his response to the allegations, said that the issue
was completely mistaken.
Eze explained that there had been an earlier publication of
constituency projects of some individuals which was not a representation of the
FERMA budget.
“What was advertised during the holidays was mainly some of
the new projects that came as a result of constituency projects of some
individuals.
“It is not a representation of the entire budget of FERMA.
Before they made this last advertisement, they have awarded about 90 per cent
of their contracts in different parts of the country,’’Eze said.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday, launched an awareness campaign, aimed at educating residents on the increasing impact of climate change.
The campaign also seeks to enlighten residents on the urgent need for personal and community protection measures.
During the launch in Uyo on Thursday, the Akwa Ibom Director of NOA, Mr Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, said that the campaign aims at enlightening residents, about the changes in weather patterns.
He said that this includes unpredictable rise in temperatures, and how these changes threaten public health across the state.
Mkpoutom noted that the current weather was not harmattan, but an extreme form of air pollution, which is harmful to health as it could cause oxidative stress which affects body balance.
“Our environment is changing rapidly, and the effects are evident in the disruptions faced by our communities.
“It is paramount that every citizen of Akwa Ibom understands these changes and take necessary steps to protect themselves, their families, and their livelihoods,” he said.
He appealed to citizens to take the following precautions which include wearing of nose mask, drinking sufficient water, covering of food and water to keep away dust, washing fruits thoroughly before eating, among others.
He directed all NOA structures within the state to engage with local communities through town hall meetings and collaboration.
He also urged engagement with schools and community leaders, to disseminate vital information on early warning signs, as well as safety protocols during extreme weather conditions.
The Chairman of Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Ms Surah Animashaun, has urged traders of Aiyetoro and Oluwo fish markets to consistently ensure a hygienic trading environment.
She urged the traders to maintain cleanliness and observe proper environmental sanitation in the markets.
Animashaun said this during a visit to some of the market areas in Epe on Saturday.
She said that clean markets were critical to public health.According to her, poor sanitation could lead to the outbreak of communicable diseases, especially in fish markets, where waste management must be handled with extra care.
The council chairman urged traders to dispose of refuse appropriately, avoid indiscriminate dumping of waste, and ensure regular cleaning of stalls and surroundings
She noted that environmental hygiene is a collective responsibility, adding that everyone should be involved in this development.
Animashaun also warned that the local government would not hesitate to enforce existing environmental laws, including sanctions against defaulters.
She assured traders of the council’s commitment to providing adequate waste disposal facilities and regular monitoring to sustain a clean and healthy market environment.
The council boss also urged traders to desist from selling by the roadside, so as to avoid accidents, noting that several motor accidents had occurred along the Aiyetoro market area.
“We, therefore, urge traders to stop selling on the roadside,” she said.
President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mrs Margaret Oguntala, has inaugurated the construction of 18 units residential terrace in highbrow Alausa area of Lagos toward bridging the nation’s shelter gap.
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