Kogi Gov declares state of emergency on environment

The Kogi state government has declared a state of emergency on the environment in order to give priority to environmental issues prevalent in many communities of the state.

This plan of action was triggered by the occurrence of another flood at Okudigbo and Odochala communities in Ibaji local government area of the state which left properties worth millions of naira destroyed and thousands of people displaced.

The state deputy governor, Mr. Simon Achuba, disclosed this plan when he hosted a courtesy visit from officials of Ecological Fund Office (ECO) who came to the state to access the extent of damage the
flood had caused. He also added that the state government has decided to set aside the last Saturday of every month as environmental sanitation day in order to mobilize the citizens to engage in the
cleaning of their environment.

“We are very grateful to the federal government for taking up these issues and giving us the needed support the state deserves. We are also very lucky to have someone in charge of the ministry of
environment who is effective and proactive in carrying out her duties,” he said.

The commissioner for Environment and Natural resources, Rosemary Osikoya made it known that the ministry had earlier presented its ecological reports on 19 local governments to the team. She complained that apart from the increase in traffic resulting from the distance from Kogi to Abuja, a river in Orokere-Amuro has also changed its natural course, using the federal road as its flowing path and
flooding the communities along its its new route. She also noted that the state government organised a workshop on afforestation and climate change last week and the workshop was well attended by many
stakeholders.

“We are very excited that the state governor is paying adequate attention to those special environmental issues, which have drawn the attention of the ecological office,” she said.

Atolagbe Tawakakitu