Kogi State Gov’t Pledges New Field Office For NESREA
His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State has pledged closer cooperation with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) with a view to creating a “safe and secured” environment in the State.
The Governor made the pledge when he received in audience the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NESREA, Dr Lawrence Chidi Anukam during a courtesy call at his office in Lokoja.
The Executive Governor who described his government as “environmentally friendly” lamented the non-implementation of the original Master-Plan of the State, leading land speculators to embark on unnecessary defacement of the environment.
He expressed disappointment with the noticeable deficit in infrastructure and revealed that machineries were now in place to correct the anomalies in the State.
The Governor further disclosed that he was ready to move Kogi State forward by ensuring their physical presence in the State to check the menace of bad environmental practices.
Responding, Dr Lawrence Anukam pointed out that he was glad to note that Kogi State’s passionate interest in protective environment was in tune with promoting good environmental governance and ensuring sustainable development.
Dr Anukam emphasized that Federal presence in the State would enhance effective environmental compliance and monitoring as Kogi represents a nexus for oil pipelines and tanker drivers. “Only constant awareness creation and education can help to put preventive measures in place and secure the environment”, he declared.
The Director-General was in Kogi State along with some of his Management Staff and Officials of the National Oil Spill Detection Response Agency (NOSDRA) led by their Director-General, Sir Peter Idabor. Also in attendance were Hon. Mrs. Rosemary Osikoya, Kogi State Commissioner for Environment, and the Secretary to the State Government, Dr (Mrs.) Ayoade Folashade, Head of Service and other Cabinet Members.
NESREA
