Ogun assembly begs Abiodun to appoint new Commissioner for Environment

Ogun Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon Olakunle Oluomo 

Concerned by the role of the Ministry of Environment at ensuring a cleaner, healthier, safe and sustainable environment, the Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Olakunle Oluomo has urged Gov Dapo Abiodun to appoint another substantive Commissioner for the Ministry.

It would be recalled that Hon Abiodun Abudu Balogun, the former Commissioner for the ministry had earlier this year been involved in the alleged attempted rape scandal and was subsequently suspended from office by the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

News later filtered in that he had quietly resigned from office.

Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, made the apppeal while responding to the submission of a member representing Yewa North II and the Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Wahab Haruna, who intimated the Assembly on the need to fill the vacuum created by the absence of a political head for the Ministry.

This the lawmaker observed had been affecting some of the programmes, performances and output of the Ministry . 

Oluomo while saying that though, the appointment of political office holders remained the prerogative of the State Governor, but having considered the need to swiftly move to ensure the promotion of safe and healthy environment, there was need for the appointment of a new State Commissioner to take charge of the Ministry.

Such appointment, the Speaker added would allow for a more robust coordination and administration of the Ministry towards harnessing all strategies in tackling all environmental hazards including flash flood alert which had since been issued by Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

Calling for an improved efforts and synergy amongst related agencies handling environmental issues to reduce the adverse effects of the perennial flooding in some parts of the State, Oluomo equally admonished residents to adopt an attitudinal change by not dumping refuse in drainage channels or erecting structures on water ways, just as he urged those living on plain level prone to flooding to relocate in line with NIMET advice.