Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, tells BLESSING AKINLABI how the government is addressing environmental challenges, including open defecation and flooding, among others

What is the state government doing to address the hardship being faced by residents displaced by the recent flooding in the state?

For those who were affected by this relocation, particularly within the Isheri flood plain, we had predicted this and advised accordingly because of seasonal fluctuations in the flood pattern due to heavy rainfall. This season, the rain is expected to last for a longer time. The flood plain is so named because of the high tide that will come along with it, and this is not peculiar to Ogun State alone. It cuts across the entire coastal towns in Nigeria, the western sub-region because it is a regional phenomenon. I recall that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency gave us information about this pattern, which was issued around April, and at that point, we had two options: either elevate or relocate the people. Elevation means elevating your house above the seasonal tidal heights.

For example, around Kara and the Isheri areas, the height can be about 1.5 metres above the normal ground level and tidal height for the dry season; and for the rainy season, you should have about two meters and above. You will observe that some people who built houses in the area two meters and above that I mentioned don’t have much flooding within their homes. The challenge is the road infrastructure, as most of the roads are constructed below two meters, so people have problems accessing their property even if it is not flooded.

What measures has the state government taken in that regard?

I think the state government has taken that up with the commissioner for works. It will be reconstructed soon to make sure that the roads are elevated so that people will have access to their property. However, people with property below the expected level will continue to relocate during the rainy season and come back during the dry season. Anyone who wants to stay in the area during the rainy season will have to elevate their buildings. So, the present relocation is based on the prediction, and we advised the people not to wait until the flood came; the relocation is temporary for two months. Currently, the tidal level has gone down, the water has regressed to the sea, and the people are back to their normal lives, but this is the period for them to elevate their buildings and for the government to elevate the road, and we are working in that direction.

What would you say is responsible for the construction of homes below the expected level by some residents?

It Is ignorance coupled with the issue of trust between the government and the people. Even when you are truthfully telling them the reality, people are cynical, and they start telling you, ‘Where do you want us to go? We are not going anywhere’. Well, if you are not going anywhere, it is not between you and the government, but between you and nature. If you can battle nature, fine. Many are now crying for the government to help them. It is borne out of that cynicism and the inherent trust deficit. But right now, with our all-inclusive system of governance, we are bridging that trust deficit with the people so that when we engage them next time, they will listen. The government is there to support the people and make life comfortable. The well-being of the people is the number one thing in the social contract you sign with the people and the government in place. The government is working to ensure that people live well, are happy, and are healthy.

It was learnt that the state government was planning to collaborate with some religious organisations to use their various centres as camps for internally displaced persons. How true is that?

Yes, it doesn’t make sense to build structures for a temporary situation like this when we can share facilities with those who have space in the community, and this is part of the inclusiveness that governance is all about. I commend NASFAT for this; we used their facilities. We have so many people who have settled there, and we have some other churches that we use. Some of the churches have hostels that are not in use, especially during this period. What the government needs is in the hands of the people, and what the people need is in the hands of the government.

Some of the religious institutions have denied offering their property as temporary shelters for people displaced by flood. What can you say about that?

Some organisations don’t want us to mention their names so that they are not seen as refugee camps. They are just helping the government, and they want it to be as private as possible. Meanwhile, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation was there at the camp (NASFAT camp) to see those who were displaced. NEMA (the National Emergency Management Agency) has been there to see them, and just because we don’t have people in some places doesn’t mean they haven’t shown their readiness.

There are complaints over poor drainage systems in some communities in the state and residents still dispose of their solid waste in gutters. What measures is the government taking to curb that?

It is a factor of the structure we have put in place. In Ogun State, we have an institution that ensures effective waste collection. The institution is growing and Improving daily in its activities. For those who still dump refuse in open spaces or drainages, our strategy to curb that is to make sure that wherever the people dump refuse, they will pay for it because the government is still going to pick it up from there. Either you give it to the private sector participants or throw it in the gutter, you will pay. We will give you your bill, and if you refuse to pay, you have to justify where you have been dumping your refuse when you get to court, and that underscores our enforcement drive to make people comply with proper waste disposal.

Open defecation is a common practice in the state, especially as major roads and highways are often littered with human waste. What is the government doing about that?

Yes, we started the campaign on open defecation, and this started last year. It’s not a matter of forcing people to comply. In line with the laws, we are making it public again; anyone who has a house without a toilet will forfeit it to the government. We give you a period of compliance to make sure you convert one of the rooms to a toilet, and if you refuse to do it, it means you don’t need the house. The law permits us to take over such a house. It is in the public interest, so you don’t endanger the lives of the people living in the community.

What are the long-term goals and vision of the Ogun State Government for achieving better waste management and sanitation practices throughout the state?

When we talk about vision, it is about making Ogun State the cleanest state in Nigeria, and we are doing everything possible to achieve that. When it comes to data gathering, we have done that. We have a credible database that shows how much waste we generate and collect daily, and this is growing because we have a dashboard where we know the efficiency level of the process. Now, the incentive for people to comply with doing the right thing is the reward system of the community development council in the state. The cleanest CDAs will be rewarded annually.

Are there plans to invest in alternative, more cost-effective energy sources for waste disposal, such as solar-powered or biogas solutions for waste disposal vehicles, to reduce reliance on diesel?

Yes. Recently, we started the conversion of all our buses to compressed natural gas. As of now, all government buses have been converted to CNG. Some states have also been approaching us about how to assist with their conversion. We are not stopping at government buses alone; we are reaching out to private bus owners because we have gas in abundance. We have the largest gas pipeline network in Nigeria. For tricycles, we are working on plans to generate clean energy sources for them, such as using battery-powered engines. We are also working on some gas stations for them, which will make them no longer need fuel to power their engines. This is a project that can pay for itself because it is for commercial purposes, and apart from the benefit of climate change, it is an enduring palliative that goes beyond just temporary relief. It will save costs, and people will have cleaner air. Our goal and mission in Ogun State is to be the most accessible in Nigeria.

We have the private sector working with us in all our processes. We make sure that whatever we do, the private sector is at the forefront. It is the private sector that is engaged in waste collection, and we gave them the guarantee that we would pay the deficit of whatever they were not collecting. Our mission is to be focused on quality and transparent governance.

Motorists and residents are worried about the growing number of beggars who have built tents under some bridges in Ogun State. Why has the government allowed this to continue despite the health hazards?

As a country, you can’t stop people from other states from coming to your state. Some of these people don’t have a place to go. And because we have yet to occupy those areas under the bridges, that’s why they are there; but with time, we are moving most of them out of the places. For instance, at the Kara Bridge, once the construction of the bypass starts, I am sure the people there will leave.

With the heavy presence of industries in Ogun, what steps is the government taking to curb air pollution?

As I told you earlier, we are the most industrial state in the country currently. However, when it comes to solid waste, we are encouraging all the industries in the state to be involved in the circular economy so that they will be able to turn the waste into something they can produce. We call it a real generative economy. Meanwhile, we reward any company that has turned its waste into products, and we give incentives for such actions. Also, there is a disincentive for the polluters; the more waste they generate, the more money they pay, which is to discourage them from producing irresponsibly.

Also, if people report any company for air pollution, we will give such a company a warning and then sanction it. We have shut down many industries due to this reason. We encourage our industries to comply with global best practices. When it comes to meeting standards, we are ensuring that whatever is produced must be standard enough to meet standard-based management. However, we are creating awareness for most companies that are ignorant of this standard. Also, there is punishment for those who are discharging waste without treating it. (Sunday PUNCH)

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