The Senate Committee on Environment has expressed disappointment over the Federal Government’s alleged disregard for environmental safety issues.
The Chairman of Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, made this known on Tuesday during the 2021 Budget defence of the Ministry of Environment by the Minister, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar.
Ekweremadu flayed the government’s inability to accord priority to environment issues.
This, he noted, was underscored by the relatively poor budgetary allocation to the Environment Ministry in the 2020 Budget.
The Ministry of Environment has a total capital budget of N8.9 billion in the 2021 budget.
Earlier in his presentation, the minister had identified the Ogoni cleanup exercise as a top priority of the ministry in the 2021.
He noted that the ministry was currently tackling environmental issues including oil spills, among others.
Abubakar said, “Three weeks ago, we were able to complete six remediated sites that are being certified by National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency right now.
“I think about three or four more are in the pipeline to be completed and certified and the remaining 15 sites of the first 21 are being worked on seriously and we completion very soon.
“”There are 36 additional sites that have been awarded. They are at various stages of work.”
The minister disclosed that about 1,200 women and youths are being trained in various skills like agriculture, aquaculture, poultry, and welding, among others.
He added, “There are livelihood programmes that are going on which have been part of the clean up project by UN Environment Programme that is ongoing currently.
“A great number of youths have been employed by the projects.”
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