Bauchi Gov commissions environmental science laboratory
From Ali Sara, Bauchi
For a cleaner Bauchi state, Governor Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has commissioned an Environmental Science Laboratory for testing of soil, plants, water and seedlings.
Commissioning the laboratory at BASEPA premises on Monday, Governor Muhammed directed BASEPA to utilised the laboratory maximally to the benefit of the people of the state, saying the equipment will highlight both existing and anticipated environmental problems across the 20 local government areas of the state.
According to him, it will also identify vulnerable groups, measure the magnitude of the problems, provide solutions in accordance with the best management practice and provide cost estimate for implementation of the proffered solutions.
“The environmental science laboratory we are commissioning today will serve as one-stop solution center for analysing and sample safe custody of samples gathered from the environmental scan”, the governor said.
“Conventionally, it is indeed apparent, the most alarming and worrisome environmental challenges confronting us are attributable to the negative attitude, especially at community levels”, he further explained.
Governor Bala said, in line with the foregoing, government is formulating favourable policies that will clearly outline and inform the citizens of the state about their roles and responsibilities in ensuring environmental cleanliness.
“The policies are not initiated to inconvenience any one. However, we deemed it necessary to involved any one of us to maximally contribute in the journey towards ensuing sustainable development”, the governor noted.
He said that the modern environmental science facility will serve as a reference centre for testing the quality of core environmental components which include water, soil and plants.
The governor who expressed delight over the feat said, ” this is a platform for enriching lives in the context of a well-protected environment hence, the aspiration of every progressing society”.
Bala who said his administration inherited unwholesome environment from the previous government, noted that so far, the state government has recorded gigantic improvement in waste management through construction of modern and durable waste collection centres.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Housing and Environment, Hamisu Muazu Shira who described the environmental science laboratory as the first of its kind in the state, assured Governor Bala Mohammed of the total support of the Ministry for effective implementation of his policies and programmes in the sector.
He said that the state government has released the sum of N28m for the construction of modern waste collection centers in the state.