Lokoja, the Kogi State Capital has been listed for a Resilience Profiling Programme towards the expected 2013 flood by the United Nation.
The Kogi State Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi made the disclosure at an interactive session with residents of Kabawa, John Holt, Kpatankoto and Nataco communities in Lokoja Local Government Area on the need to ensure stakeholders participation In the beautification project of the State Government.
The vital place of Lokoja as a gateway and a rapidly urban city devastated by last year’s flood, Awoniyi disclosed were the criteria used by the UN in the selection process.
Awoniyi, who is the State Chairman, Committee on beautification and sanitation,said the selection of Lokoja as the only city from Nigeria, second in Africa and among the ten other cities in the world necessitated the need to engage the stakeholders towards achieving the needed result of making the capital clean befitting of a rapidly urban Centre.
The meeting with the concerned groups, the Deputy Governor added underscored the importance Government attaches to involving stakeholders in beautification strategy, called for a change of attitude as cleanliness he said is next to godliness.
“With the State Capital now becoming a major focus all over the world following its recognition by the UN, the need to make the town habitable,” the Deputy Governor noted has become imperative.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment, Abdulrahman Wuya, said interacting with the people is one of the global best approach in community sanitation in resilient program.
The Commissioner listed defecation, urination in the River Niger, blockage of water ways, illegal motor parks, assembling of scraps and unserviceable vehicles as some problems militating against the aesthetic beauty of the State Capital, appealed for support from the people to enable government achieve its objectives.
Various speakers at the occasion beard their minds through suggestions on how to achieve the beautification of the state capital.
The meeting later resolved to carry out proper enlightenment,provide more Waste bins, provide Public toilets among others as first phase measures aimed at making the State Capital clean.
