Ministry of Environment
PREAMBLE
The Ministry of Environment was created on 2nd August 2000 with only 21 personnel’s and a two‑room apartment in the Ministry of Agric and Rural Development. The staff strength of the Ministry is now two hundred and seventeen (217). The Chief Executive of the Ministry in the Commissioner while the Accounting Officer is the Permanent Secretary.
THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE MINISTRY
The Ministry has four departments
** Department of Finance and Administration headed by Director of Finance
and Administration.
** Department of Forestry beaded by the Director of Forestry Services.
** Department of Nature Conservation and Wildlife Services (NOWS) headed by Director of (NCWS)
** Department of Environmental Health and Sanitation headed by the Director (EHS)
BOARDS/AGENCIES UNDER THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT
The Boards and Agencies under the Ministry are:
i. State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) beaded by a General Manager.
ii. State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) headed by a General Manager
iii. Waste Management Board (WMB) headed by a Secretary
COMMITTEES/TASK FORCE IN THE MINISTRY
i. Environmental Sanitation Task Force Committee
ii. Forest produce Ministry Squad (FPMS)
FUNCTIONS
(i) Policy initiation and execution in managing and developing the entire 3,969‑38 sq ka Forest area of Ekiti State (297.2 sq km Forest Reserve and 3672.18 sq km free area).
(ii) Formulation and enforcement of Forestry Laws and Regulations for the control and protection of the State forests,
(iii) Ensuring sustainable forest management to meet the economic, social and ecological needs of the people of the State,
(iv) Embarking on aggressive industrial plantation establishment (reforestation to meet the future timber/wood needs of the state and also for expert (to earn foreign exchange)
(v) Control and monitoring of wood based industries in the State (128 sawmill premises in the State).
(vi) Identifying sites suitable for Parks and Gardens and managing then for conservation and recreational purposes.
(vii) Conserving watershed and erosion prone areas and operating in concert with related Agencies (e.g. Agriculture, Lands, Health etc) in conserving the environment.
(viii) Conducting Environmental Impact Assessment study before any economic activity is embarked upon on any land in the State.
(ix) Identifying endangered flora (plants) and fauna (animals) and taking measures to conserve such species to forestall their extinction and
(x) Ensuring that the provisions of National and International conventions and treaties on Environment are respected.
(xi) Design and Standardization of Sanitation facilities house to house inspections, food hygiene and safety practices in Hotel, Schools with Boarding system, Occupational Hygiene in Sawmills, Banks, Petrol Filling Station, Sanitary Diagnostic Lab.
(xii) Develop and implement sustained public education and awareness programme on Environmental Health and Sanitation ‑ Workshop/Seminars organisation in different for a e.g. women and children etc.
ACTIVITIES OF THE MINISTRY
Since the Ministry has fully taken off and well established, it has successfully carried out the followings;
(i) Landscaping of its environment.
(ii) Removal of filths from Ado ‑ Ekiti, the State capital vide Waste Management Board (WMB) and Environmental Sanitation Task Force.
(iii) Organisation of seminars on healthy and save environment for the masses.
(iv) Regular enlightenment programmes on healthy living.
(v) Monitoring tree felling and implementing forest regeneration.
(vi) Between January 2000 and December 2003 365 hectares of teak were established.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE MINISTRY TO DATE.
1. The Ministry generated N30,908,380 from January to July, 2004 bringing the total revenue generated since to date to N172,744,874.9.
2. As at July 2004, a total of 500,000 seedlings of Teak and Gmeline have been raised.
3. Wooglots are being established in all Local Government Areas in Ekiti State.
4. The Ministry established nurseries at Ado, Ikere, and Ikole in 2002 for forest establishment in Irele, Agbado, Ise, Emure, Ikere, Otun and Ayedun.
5. The first phase of ado-Ekiti beautification was started in the middle of year 2003, and is still going on.
6. The Ministry holds meetings with sawmillers to sensitise them on prevention of occupational hazards.
7. Barbers and hairdressers in the State were trained on prevention and spread of HIV/AIDS and other communicable skin diseases.
8. Removal of filths from Ado-Ekiti, the State capital via Waste Management Board (WMB) and Environmental Sanitation Task Force.
9. Procurement of waste management tools and equipment (Dustbins, Polythene Sacs, Plastic Broom and Packers, Gloves, Apron etc).
10. Printing of posters, handbill and billboards.
Structure of the Agency:
The State Environmental Protection Agency has its day to day operations vested in the Executive Director and his Management Staff. There is also a Management Board under the Chairman. This Board deals with policy matters. On most issues, the Executive Director relates with the Executive Governor through the Honourable Commissioner. The agency is made up of four (4) sections. These are the Administrative and Accounts section, the Department of Planning Environmental Technology and Research, the Department of Inspectorate and Compliance Monitoring and the Department of Forestry Affairs.
EKITI STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
The Decree 12 of 1999, empowers the creation of State Emergency Management Agency, as the successor to the State Emergency Relief Agency SERA which was established by Decree 48 of 1976 and broadened the mandate of SEMA beyond mere provision of relief which was the statutory function of it's precursor. The State Emergency Management Agency by it's mandate is vested with the authority to manage all disasters in Ekiti State. The Agency is charged with the following responsibilities:
(a) Notify the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA of any natural or other disasters occurring in the State;
(b) Respond to any disaster within the state and may seek assistance from the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA if it deems fit in each circumstance.
(c) Embarking on strategies that could enhance disaster reduction in Ekiti, such as mass public enlightenment, tree planting and mobilising communities to support these initiatives;
(d) Advising Government on the nature and volumes of relief to be provided to victims of these disaster. The Agency is made up of three departments;
(i) Finance and Administration
(ii) Research and Planning
(iii) Relief and Rehabilitation.
The Agency has been able to justify the necessity for it's Establishment in Ekiti State through its various laudable programmes and activities. To date, the Agency has touched almost all disaster victims especially the peasants and in particular the widows. As a matter of strategic policy, it is better to give out a little than not giving at all.
WASTE MANAGEMENT BOARD
Ekiti State waste Management Board was established in February 2001 and saddled with the responsibility of collection transportation and disposal of wastes and the protection of public health and high standard of cleanliness within Ado Ekiti Metropolis and other urban centers of Ekiti State.
The establishment is made up three major Departments. They include:
1. Engineering Department
2. Inspectorate Department and
3. Finance‑ and Administration Department.
The management of the organization is carried out by seven main Board Members on part time basis with the executive Secretary as the accounting officer who is saddled with the day‑ to‑day administration supported by the heads of the various departments.
The functions of the board include but not limited to the following:
1. To rid the State of refuse through regular collection from households, establishments, institutions and other designated areas for disposal to avoid refuse pollution, environmental blightedness and epidemic development.
2. To establish and maintain approved sanitary land fill sites within the state for disposal of wastes.
3. To compliment or take part in the organisation monitoring and supervision of environmental sanitation campaigns so as to generate adequate awareness of the need for effective storage, collection and disposal of wastes in Ekiti State.
4. To set guidelines and monitor the firms and companies engaged in the collection of waste and supporting revenues.
5. To ensure and cause the removal of sludge in households, industries and institutions and‑dispose it in a designated disposal site.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
1. Sensitization and mobilization of Ado‑Ekiti community on waste collection and disposal
2. Regular collection and disposal of wastes within Ado‑Ekiti metropolis,
3. Involvement in the monitoring of environmental Sanitation Exercise within Ado‑Ekiti metropolis.
Directorate of Information Technology, Ekiti State, Nigeria