The Edo State Government has called for the support of all residents and other stakeholders for the realization of the government’s greenery project, aimed at ensuring environmental sustainability.
The Edo State Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Engr. Jonathan Lawani made the call while receiving delegates from the Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Institute of Landscape Horticulturist, led by its Chairman, Uwadiamen Iyamuosa, who were on a courtesy visit at his office, in Benin City.
He said Governor Godwin Obaseki remains committed to achieving a beautiful, clean and prosperous Edo in line with the Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) Agenda, adding, “One thing that will make us great again is certainly to have that beautiful environment because of the peculiarity of the location of the state.”
Lawani said, “The governor is so keen and interested in achieving a clean, green and beautiful Edo and to make it a reality, the state is waiting for the House of Assembly to pass the bill for the establishment of the Edo Parks and Gardens Agency. The Agency will be responsible for all the activities as it relates to beautification and urban renewal in collaboration with the Edo Ministry of Physical Planning to make sure that the MEGA Agenda of Mr. Governor as it pertains to urban renewal is achieved.”
He continued: “One key aspect of that bill is that the government will take responsibility for establishing parks and gardens across the state which we will need your expertise and professionalism in actualizing. The governor has mandated that everything that pertains to horticulture and landscaping must be done by our people from this state.
“The bill has provided that if the people refuse to green their premises or plant the necessary trees, the government will have the authority to write to them to do so within a speculated time and failure to do so, the government also has a right to go there, contact a professional landscaper to do it and send the bill for the people to pay. This is not just to beautify the environment but to also control erosion.”
The commissioner further disclosed that the ministry has rolled out ‘Operation Own A Tree’ to enable volunteers to plant a tree and be responsible for its maintenance for one or two years.
Earlier, the secretary of the institute, Akintoye Temitope said the institute will continue to partner with the government to ensure the realization of the clean and clean project.