Kwara Government Unveils New Environmental Strategies
The Kwara State Government says it is set to introduce fresh strategies to improve environmental management across the state, with a focus on waste control, climate change adaptation, and flood prevention. Commissioner for Environment, Hajia Nafisat Buge, announced the plans during a stakeholders’ meeting with media practitioners at the ministry’s conference hall in Ilorin.
According to her, the new measures will include compulsory waste bins for all households to ensure proper disposal, mandatory tree planting, and the creation of water channels in residential compounds. Residents will be required to pay stipulated fees per household while the government takes responsibility for effective waste evacuation. She explained that the initiatives are aimed at aligning Kwara with global best practices in climate action, particularly in the wake of recent droughts that have devastated farmlands.
Buge further disclosed that approvals for new housing projects will now be tied to the construction of drainage systems as part of efforts to mitigate flooding. She urged the media to act as ambassadors in promoting environmental consciousness among citizens, stressing that current anti-dumping measures were already yielding results but needed to be consolidated through sustainable policies and enforcement.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Abubakar Ayinla, noted that changes in rainfall patterns, rising heat waves, and drought risks are signs of climate change that can be mitigated through simple practices such as tree planting and discouraging indiscriminate felling of trees. The meeting also featured contributions from journalists and top officials, including the General Manager of the Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency, Jide Aina; Director of Environment, Mary Mustapha; Head of Climate Change, Iliasu AbdulGaniyu; and Environmental Health Officers of the ministry.
