EMR Consults has urged the Public-Private Partners (PPP) to take necessary actions to stop the constant environmental flood crises in the country.
During the Pollution Control Conference (POLCON) event held virtually on 25th of September 2020, themed “Tackling Flooding Crisis through Public & Private Partnerships,” Constant blockage of drainages with waste and structures was identified as the catalyst responsible for flooding when it rains.
Dr. Dolapo Fasewa, General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) during her speech stated that the Public and Public Partnership initiative is crucial in tackling flood crisis in the state.
She added that with the Public Private Partner (PPP) initiative, some degree of sanity would be restored on the environment, and this will help to mitigate and manage the scourge of flooding in the state.
“Through Public-Private Partnership, the environment will be restored. Managing the adverse event when it occurs in a vulnerable environment is also a viable way to curtail and reduce flood”.
She further called for concerted efforts of stakeholders to forestall the incidence of flooding, noting that the issue of flooding in Nigeria required a front burner position in our national discourse.
Ola Oresanya, Special Adviser to the Governor of Ogun State on Environment in his opening remark, stated that the event was solution-driven as it would open up opportunities to identify various flooding challenges in the environment.
Oresanya called for a change of attitude towards the environment, noting that indiscriminate waste disposal was responsible for the blocking drainage paths thereby leading to flooding.
He added that there is need for concerted efforts of stakeholders to forestall the incidence of flooding, noting that the issue of flooding in Nigeria requires a front burner position in our national discourse.
The host, Wunmi Ogunde, in her welcome address, expressed excitement towards the event and emphasized the urgent need to tackle pollution in Nigeria looking at flooding as a crisis that needs public and private intervention.
Dr. Dolapo Fasewa, General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), noted that private and public partnership is crucial in tackling flood crisis in the country.
She further added that through private and public partnership, the environment will be restored, and also managing adverse event even when it occurs in a vulnerable environment is also a viable way to curtail and reduce flood rate.
“A mutually beneficial and inclusive synergy of ideas and resources between all stakeholders towards the actualization of solutions to a shared problem is a sustainable solution” she added.
Flood crisis is a need of the hour conversation in Nigeria, though it is not achievable in a day, it’s a gradual process.
At the close of this timely event, it was a clarion call to all private and public individuals to ensure all hands on deck to achieve a friendly environment.
