The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has constructed waste conversion plants at Ilokun and Emirin communities in Ado Ekiti Local Government Area of Ekiti State.The plants for the conversion of organic waste to manure were inaugurated recently by the Minister of Environment, Hajia Hadiza Mailafia, where it was highlighted that it was to further enhance the efforts of the Federal Government to ensure a cleaner environment.Members of Ilokun and Emirin communities in Ado Ekiti where the two composting plants are located, have also expressed the hope that the plants would serve the purposes for which they were meant namely, the conversion of organic waste to fertilizer.The people also expressed delight that it was a way of creating employment for them as well as helping in protecting the environment.Speaking on the occasion, Hajia Mailafia said: 'Waste management has remained one of the most intractable environmental challenges facing the country today despite several efforts by the government. The practice of moving wastes indiscriminately from point of generation to all sorts of illegal dump sites, including roadsides, open drainages and vacant plots of land, is environmentally unsustainable and unhealthy. 'The indiscriminate dumping is responsible for a variety of problems such as contamination of water bodies, proliferation of insects, rodents, diseases outbreaks, and blocked drainages leading to perennial flooding.'She gave the assurance that the project, which was sponsored by NESREA, would create jobs and wealth for the youth, adding that the manure that would be generated from the waste at the project site would go a long way to boost food production in the country.The minister also made it known that organic fertilizer was better than inorganic or chemical fertilizer, saying it had no negative effect on the soil and the environment.Mailafia appealed to Nigerians to dump their wastes at designated places, pointing out that flooding could result due to indiscriminate dumping of refuse. The head of NESREA in Ekiti State, Dr. Ngeri Benebo, said the project was also a way of creating wealth from wastes.Benebo explained that NESREA 'selected the government designated dump sites to construct the composting projects,' adding that 'the organic waste is turned into the composting process in the plants.'The inauguration ceremony was also attended by Governor Kayode Fayemi and other dignitaries.Governor Fayemi, in his speech, lauded the pilot project and assured that the state government would commence the construction of the road leading to the site.He also said the state government would link the area to the national electricity grid soon.The state Commissioner for Housing and Environment, Mr. Ayodele Omotosho, called on the Federal Government to give further attention to environmental challenges confronting the state.Omotosho said the challenges included erosion which he said had led to loss of property.
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