The attention of the Ministry of the Environment has been drawn to the above-titled in the Sunday PUNCH of December 4, 2011, written by Mr. Samuel Awoyinfa.The report alleged that in the past one year, virtually all the locations of the beautification and greening projects of Lagos State are crying for attention; while it also claimed that many of the parks have been invaded by grasses and other wild shrubs.Going down the memory lane, one could not forget in a hurry the terrible state of Lagos environment with our open spaces, verges, triangular lay-byes and loops in a horrible state. Apart from being heavily degraded, they also served as breeding grounds for criminals.The neglected highways which were adorned with overgrown weeds and bushes according to the Federal Road Safety Corps, led to the death of several innocent Nigerians, due to motorists inability to see on-coming vehicles.It was from this state of neglect and decay that the Babatunde Raji Fashola administration told Lagosians of his intention to change the face of Lagos and transform it to an investment haven that will attract local and foreign investors.The Lagos State Government has since beautified over 120 open spaces, loops, and verges and transformed them to lush parks, gardens and recreation centres across the state.While the observation of the writer about the state of one or two of these parks is being noted and as a matter of fact, on which remedial action has already commenced, it is indeed incorrect to generalise that virtually all the locations of the projects are crying for attention.In view of the above, the Lagos State Government, as a more permanent measure, has set up measures for the maintenance and sustainability of these sites with the establishment of Parks and Garden Agency, which is to henceforth carry out routine maintenance of existing and upcoming parks.Aware that sustainability is key to the success of the beautification and greening project, the state government has already engaged workmen to rid the beautified sites of weeds and shrubs, while it has also sounded a note of warning to contractors handling each of the sites to brace up or have their contracts revoked.While expressing his resentment at the states greening programme, it is also important to set the record straight and correct the notion about the accompanying pictures in the write-up that listed Murtala Mohammed International Airport Project as a Lagos State Government Project. This is a Federal Government project being executed by the Federal Airport Authority.While appreciating the good works of the Fashola greening programme, several other corporate organisations, industries, multinationals and banks, also complement the states effort through corporate social responsibility. So, it may not be right to assume and tag any other complementing beautification projects in the state as belonging to the state government.On the alleged vandalisation of railings at different beautification sites in Lagos, investigation has shown that this is the handwork of reckless drivers who run into the railings, which the Ministry of the Environment had replaced several times. The state government has also promised to establish at least one recreational park and garden in all the local governments in the state. In fact, the parks in Badagry and Ikorodu are at over 50 per cent completion stages.Similarly, the state government has commenced the renewal and beautification of the Abebe village project, starting from Costain through Iganmu to Ijora.The Lagos State Government remains committed to the Operation Green Lagos project and will continue to beautify more open spaces and loops in order to make Lagos more beautiful and attractive.Fola Adeyemi Public Relations Officer, Ministry of The Environment
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