Environment

Andoni Council Chairman Vows To Restore Peace, Dev

Published

5 years ago

June 21, 2021

The new Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Bar Erastus Awortu has reiterated his readiness to run all inclusive government that will restore peace and development in the area.
Awortu made this Known at his swearing in and reception ceremony held in Port harcourt.
According to him,”the government is not for Peoples Democratic Party PDP and politicians alone but for all citizens of Andoni irrespective of the Party one belong to.”
He called on all stakeholders including those in Opposition parties to join hands to give Andoni a new facelift
The Chairman also called on the youths to embrace peace and shun violence, saying that development cannot take place amidst insecurity.
Awortu reassured that education and empowerment of youths would be a priority in the new government of the area.
Mr Awortu also pledged to enroll 20 youths in the Local Government Area for a maritime training programme.
The council chairman said he was determined to have development programmes geared towards preparing the youth for gainful employment in the maritime sector.
“I have started exploring employment opportunities in the various oil companies operating in our areas.
“But, these companies have always complained that our youths lacked requisite skills.
“It is on this note that I have decided to train selected youths and arm them with necessary manpower in the maritime sector.
“I have had a preliminary discussion with a maritime institute where I intend to enroll no fewer than 20 trainees for the 2021/2022 academic session of the institute.
“We look forward to training 20 ship captains in the first two years of our administration,” Awortu said.
On criteria for selection for the training, he assured that it would be based on merit, adding that participants would be exposed to a competitive examination.
As part of efforts to set his agenda for the council rolling, the new council head has announced two key appointments in his cabinet.
Mr Dimiari Franklyn will serve as Secretary to the Council while Mr Talik Dandison will serve as the Council’s Chief of Staff.
Indigenes and political stakeholders in the area who were present at the reception have pledged support for the new administration.
It would be recalled that Governor Wike of Rivers had last Thursday inaugurated newly elected 23 local council chairmen.
Among other demands, the governor had urged the new chairmen to prioritize security and environmental sanitation in their respective areas.
Based on the governor’s charge, Awortu said that he would strengthen an existing committee set up by traditional rulers in pursuance of peace in Andoni.
He said the measure would assist in achieving quick and sustainable peace in the area and urged the various warring factions to support the peace process.
“The current security situation in our area is quite worrisome, some communities have been internally displaced following consistent cult related crises.
“A lot of our people are currently taking refuge in neighboring local government areas.
“We must strive to restore peace and ensure that displaced persons are returned to their homes.
“The people responsible for unrest and bad reputation that a once peaceful area now have are all our children and brothers.
“We cannot continue to pretend as if we don’t know them, we cannot continue to tolerate this unwarranted torture on innocent citizens.
“This is the reason we must form a united front in our commitment to peace,” Awortu said.

By: Enoch Epelle

Environment

Lagos State Government Refuted Resumed Monthly Sanitation

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Lagos State Government on Saturday refuted an online media report claiming that the state had resumed the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said no categorical statement had been made regarding the commencement date of the exercise.

Wahab explained that what he told newsmen after a project inspection tour last Sunday was that engagements with relevant stakeholders were still ongoing.

He said the state government had planned to begin with a sensitisation programme last week, but was constrained by logistics issues.

“The truth is, we were meant to start with a sensitisation programme last week, but we had a logistics issue. We need to find a day that is acceptable to all stakeholders,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the exercise might return very soon, adding that the official date would be communicated by the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The commissioner urged law-abiding residents to continue their lawful activities without hindrance, assuring them that adequate notice would be given before the exercise was reintroduced.

The monthly environmental sanitation, previously held on the last Saturday of every month between 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m., was suspended in November 2016 following a legal pronouncement restricting movement during the exercise.

However, renewed waste management challenges, including clogged drainage channels and indiscriminate refuse disposal, have sparked calls from residents for its reinstatement.

Environment

LAWMA Director Says Sweeping Reforms Have Improved Waste Collection

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, says sweeping reforms and infrastructure upgrades have significantly improved waste collection efficiency across the state.

Gbadegesin disclosed this to newdmen last week in Lagos state.

He said LAWMA expanded night cleaning operations and increased street sweeping coverage to 1,000 routes statewide.

He disclosed that 16,000 street sweepers were currently engaged across Lagos, supported by improved logistics and operational systems.

He said LAWMA acquired new equipment three years ago to complement Private Sector Participants (PSP) compactors and rehabilitated old trucks to strengthen fleet capacity.

He added that additional compactor trucks were expected in the coming months.

“Heavy-duty equipment is now deployed to clear legacy illegal dumpsites across communities,” he said.

Gbadegesin said LAWMA strengthened human capacity by expanding its advocacy department and deepening collaboration with Community Development Associations (CDAs) and local councils.

He revealed that each local government now operates a waste management task force, supported by LAWMA integration desks.

On waste-to-wealth initiatives, he disclosed that the Lagos State House of Assembly had ratified a concession agreement with ZoomLion to construct transfer loading stations and material recovery facilities.

The facilities, he said, would enable closure of the Olusosun and Solous landfills and process 4,000 tonnes of waste daily.

He said organic waste, which constitutes about 50 per cent of Lagos waste, would be converted into compost, while plastics would be recycled into waste bins.

Gbadegesin also disclosed plans for a 1,500-tonnes-per-day waste-to-energy plant in partnership with a Dutch firm, Harvest Waste.

He said the project was expected to generate 60 megawatts of electricity to support emerging industrial zones.

He further highlighted a pilot biogas plant at the Epe Food Market, which processes 500kg of organic waste daily to generate electricity for market operations.

He called for stronger media collaboration to enhance public awareness and behavioral change.

“Waste management is not just about equipment; it is about human behaviour, enforcement and strong regulatory systems,” he said.

He urged residents to utilise LAWMA’s toll-free lines and digital platforms to report service gaps instead of resorting to illegal dumping.

Environment

Ministry Of Environment To Validate A Landmark Policy To Advance Nigeria’s Economy

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Ministry of Environment last Thursday convened key stakeholders in Abuja to validate a landmark policy brief aimed at tackling marine litter to advance Nigeria’s transition to a circular economy.

Mrs Falmata Bukar-Kolo, the Deputy Director, Solid Waste Management and Technology Division in the ministry, warned that plastic pollution poses serious risks to aquatic ecosystems and public health.

She stated that microplastics have already entered the food chain through fish consumption, while clogged waterways, soil contamination, and greenhouse gas emissions from burning plastics are worsening the environmental crisis.

Bukar-Kolo said that plastics, though widely used, are non-biodegradable and persist in the environment for years.

She called for improved waste management systems, stronger enforcement of environmental regulations, and behavioural change amongst citizens and businesses.

Mr Clem Ugorji, Regional Coordinator of PROTEGO, emphasised on the urgency of action, saying Nigeria’s marine litter crisis carries environmental, economic, and reputational costs.

He expressed optimism that the 2025 to 2040 roadmap endorsed at the workshop would shift the country from prolonged dialogue to concrete implementation.

The event was organised in collaboration with PROTEGO (Prevention of Marine Litter in the Gulf of Guinea).

Discussions centred on a draft policy input paper titled “Policies, Institutional Set-up and Financing of Marine Litter Prevention in Nigeria,”.

These seeks to present insightful analysis and a set of recommendations to address the structural and financing gaps that have long hindered effective waste management, particularly plastic leakage from inland communities and waterways into the Atlantic Ocean.

The PROTEGO initiative is supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection and led by adelphi, with implementation in Nigeria by WASTE Africa and the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC).

The policy brief is a key delivery for one of the programme’s four impact areas – building capacities of public stakeholders.