Ogun partners firm to generate electricity through waste

The Ogun State government at the weekend disclosed that it had entered into partnership agreement with LafargeHolcim company to build a power plant to generate electricity supply from waste to improve electricity in the state.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Bolaji Oyeleye, who made this known in Abeokuta, the state capital said the partnership became imperative due to the persistent poor and epileptic power supply across the country.

The Commissioner who spoke to journalists during a press conference to mark the “World Environment Day” celebration said the partnership was part of the issues that came up during the recent concluded investors’ forum in Abeokuta.

The Commissioner explained that when completed, the Waste-to-Power-Plant project would generate enough electricity to meet the larger percentage of energy needs of major cities in the state.

Oyeleye explained that the partnership was to save the environment from being polluted as well as provide cheaper energy source that would further contribute to saving the ozone layer from further depletion.

He urged the people of the state to make sure they keep the environment clean in order to avoid environmental disaster and pollution, stressing that the state was doing everything possible to clean up and restore the environment.

The commissioner enjoined the people of the state to cultivate the ideas of planting trees and desist also from illegal trade in wildlife. He also called on those in “gaming profession” to desist from hunting down some of the endangered species.

Oyeleye disclosed that the state would reinvigorate the institution mechanism responsible for environmental challenges of the state, saying “Concerted and deliberate efforts are being made on daily basis to open the doorway for private sector involvement through partnership or direct investment in projects and programmes that will turn the tide of environmental challenges in the state.”

On waste management, he said: “We are evolving a new waste management strategy that will involve private sector participants, driven by the Polluter-pay- Principle backed by legal framework that will provide for effective, efficient and robust service delivery.”
The Commissioner added “We only plead for the full cooperation of our people for the successful takeoff and smooth implementation of the programme when it comes on board.”

Oyeleye, who lamented the current desert encroachment in some parts of the state, said this had resulted into lost of green, lost of forest and assured that the government was engaging relevant stakeholders to address the issue as soon as possible.

On what the state is doing to control erosion, he disclosed that the ministry is constantly in touch with the Federal Ministry of Environment to be partaker of the ecological fund meant for erosion control.

“This year’s celebration is admonishing us to effect a positive change in our disposition to our environment beginning from every individual to the family, to the community, to markets, to the schools, to the small and medium scale enterprises, to industries, to the
Local government areas and to the nation at large.”

Answering a reporter’s question on noise pollution by some religious bodies in the state, the commissioner assured that the government would look into it, saying, “Yes, we must serve God but it is not good to use your service to disturb the peace of people. Religious bodies must keep their noise low.”