Ecological problems to gulp N1 trillion
From Ifedayo Sayo, Ado-Ekiti
ABOUT N1 trillion is needed to combat ecological problems in the country, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Ecology, Mr. Dayo Oguniyi, said yesterday.
He made this known in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, while exchanging views with Governor Ayo Fayose during his visit to the state's ecological disaster zones.
Oguniyi lamented the spate of ecological problems in the country, saying measures are being taken to address them.
Oguniyi, who also visited disaster zones in Moba, Ilejeweje, Idolosi and Ikere Local Councils, said there is the urgent need for the Federal Government to come to the aid of the state in combating the ecological problems.
Stressing that the people living in the affected local councils were exposed to serious dangers, he further called for concerted efforts of both the federal and state governments in ensuring the safety of lives and property of the residents of the state.
He noted that buildings in some of the disaster zones were built too close to drainage, water pipes and power supply transformers, pointing out that most of the buildings did not comply with urban and regional planning regulations.
"It is unfortunate that we have erected structures indiscriminately in this country. Imagine many houses located in some areas were not guided by proper urban and regional planning and that is why we are having problems", he said.
He assured that the Federal Government would give necessary assistance to the state and local councils to tackle the ecological problems in the area.
Fayose called for the assistance of the Federal Government in making lives more meaningful to the people of the state, saying it was ready to co-operate with the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, Fayose has called on the people to embark on massive tree planting to check rainstorm, assuring that his administration would continue to implement programmes that would reduce the level of poverty among the people.
