The Edo State government has urged residents in the state to clear gutters and embrace best practice in disposing their wastes as the raining season sets in.
Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, said the early rains, though good for agricultural activities, “could impact on the physical environment if proactive measures are not taken by residents to desilt drains and properly dispose their wastes.â€
He noted that “the heavy rains are coming earlier than projected by the federal government weather monitoring agencies and could cut short the dry season window and impact on ongoing road construction work across the state.â€
Osagie assured that efforts are being made by the appropriate agency of government to reduce the down time of domestic wastes at collection points and evacuate debris from drainages.
“The Ministry of Environment is worried over the delay in evacuating debris on the road side and is currently simulating several options with a view to adopting the most effective way of dealing with this challenge.
“When the debris are left on the road side, the rains could wash them back into the gutters and when that happens, the surrounding environment will be flooded. People can be sacked from their homes and business places.
“We need a new attitude towards waste disposal and management as stakeholders in our human environment. Often times we bring home things we do not need, that end up in our trash cans.â€
He maintained that the medium to long-term plans of the state government are to harness the energy generation potential in wastes and recycling/reprocessing through robust private sector investment, to create jobs, produce renewable energy and environmentally-friendly materials, among other benefits.
“The waste to wealth initiative has become very popular across the world and Edo State is ready to key into it and get its fair share of the initiative,†Osagie said.
