LACK OF FUNDS RESPONSIBLE FOR ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS – MIMIKO

Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday said lack of adequate funds was one of the factors responsible for ecological problems in the country.

Mimiko, who spoke in Akure while delivering his goodwill message to the National Committee on Ecological Problems' Stakeholders Forum in the South-west zone, said the resources at the disposal of states could not cope with the scope of ecological problems.

He called on the Federal Government to look into the matter.

'In view of the global climatic change as well as other geographical characteristics of Ondo State, ecological problems come up on a daily basis. Within our limited resources, we have planted 540,000 trees, and we intend to plant about one million in 2011. We also have a responsive Emergency Management Agency that releases needed relief materials to victims of ecological disaster. We are also training young graduates in renewable energy called Tech Alive. We have built perhaps what we can call the biggest solar inverter in Nigeria at the new Neighbourhood Market at Isinkan in the state capital,' he stated.

Minister of Environment and Chairman, National Committee on Ecological Problems (NCEP), Mr John Odey said the Federal Government was doing its best to tackle ecological problems in the country. He also charged the local and state governments to work towards saving the environment.