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The Kogi State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, has urged private sector and individuals to participate in planting of trees and waste management across the state.
Osikoya made the appeal when the representatives of Kogi Coalition of Business and Professional Association (KOCOBPA), visited her on a partnership call to her office, on Wednesday in Lokoja.
Osikoya said that the government wanted business community, corporate organisations volunteers, individuals, groups, and religious bodies that would partner with it in waste management and afforestation activities.
According to her, one of the main causes of flooding is the high rate of diminishing forestry which supposed to serve as wind breaker, and trees’ roots that ought to hold the land together to prevent erosion.
“For every single tree that is cut down, five trees must be planted as replacement; we are encouraging everyone to save a life by planting a tree. All model cities have a higher proportion of greens.
“It is exciting that the business communities have shown interest to partner with the state government, on sanitation, waste management and afforestation matters; but we are seeking for more partners.
“We encourage people to teach their children to clean their environment and dispose refuse appropriately; it is our responsibility to ensure effective management system for every waste we generated, and ensure that our environment is safer for all to live.
“We welcome your partnership to help us drive all these issues of environment and to help carried your people along for sustainable utilisation of our environment. We thank you for coming,” Osikoya said.
The commissioner urged the residents to come out and participate actively in community service to clean their surroundings, cut grasses, clear blocked drainages/water channels during the July edition of the monthly environmental sanitation on Saturday.
“Dr John Alabi, the Chairman of KOCOBPA, told NAN that they came to discuss with the commissioner on how to partner with the state on environment management and waste control for sustainable business development.
Alabi added that their objective was to promote a good business relation and one of the obstacles was the environment issue, saying the partnership would be a win win situation.
“Our objective is to serve as a strong and influential voice for creating a business friendly environment for businessmen and professionals to operate.
“The commissioner has given us assurance that the state government will partner with us because the issue of environment is everybody’s business; it is a shared responsibility, and we will ensure the support of all our groups,” He said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that KOCOBPA is a coalition of about 30 non-political socioeconomic association of business and profession in Kogi, which was inaugurated in March 2011.
Credits: Stephen Adeleye | NAN
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