By Josephine Oguntoyinbo

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Effective management of the environment has been described as panaceas for sustainable development.

Ondo State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Alhaji Amidu Takuro stated this while playing host to the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Sunday Akinwalere and his Management team in his office in Akure.

Alhaji Takuro who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Bayo Philip, assured of collaboration with the Ministry of Environment to further ensure effective management of the environment in the state.

The commissioner affirmed the inter-related and complementary nature of the mandate of the two ministries in achieving a healthy, functional, well-planned and sustainable environment in the state.

 He advised the Ministry of Environment to ensure that road setbacks are free from illegal structures and activities, while landscapes should be consciously managed to forestall repeated contraventions. 

According to the statement by the Media Manager of the ministry, Mrs Adebimpe Amos, the commissioner assured that no building approvals would be granted on wetlands in the State, promising that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) would remain a major condition for approving major projects.

He stressed the need for physical planning and environmental standard with the speed of population growth to ensure social/economic development.

He equally promised that the ministry would continue to enforce the policy guiding physical planning in the state in terns of erection of buildings, citing of industries/companies among others.

Earlier in his speech, the Commissioner for Environment, Sunday Akinwalere had solicited for the continued support of the ministry, particularly on issues of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and in keeping the wetlands free of structures and other forms of obstruction.

Akinwalere stated that the present administration would leave no stone unturned in protecting the lives and properties of all and sundry in the State.

The commissioner appreciated the State Government’s efforts at making towns and cities a place of pride.