8th July, 2011
The new Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, has resumed duty in the Ministry and pledged speedy completion of all projects commenced by his predecessor, Dr Muiz Banire. He declared that the state has zero tolerance for abandoned projects.
Bello, who resumed in company of the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Dr. Taofik Folami, said all on-going projects in the area of beautification, drainage, waste management and all others under the purview of the Ministry of the Environment would be completed before new ones are embarked upon.
The Commissioner commended the Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola and the immediate past commissioner, Banire for the height they had taken the environment to in the last four years.
He noted that, the governor invested heavily in the environment culminating in construction of world class drainage channels which has helped tremendously in flood management.
The beautification of Lagos, he noted, has added aesthetics and socio-economic value to the Centre of Excellence while quite a lot had been achieved in Waste Management.
Bello recalled that the journey to environmental regeneration started about twelve years ago with the administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu battling heaps of refuse that dotted the landscape of the city.
Receiving the Commissioner and the Special Adviser, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Muyideen Akinsanya and his counterpart in the Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Titi Anibaba pledged support for the team.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga