The new General Manager of the Niger State Environmental Protection Agency (NISEPA), Dr. Abubakar Mohammed, has said that the agency is key to the success of the urban renewal policy of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago.
The general manager made this disclosure while interacting with staff of the agency on his assumption of office on Tuesday.
He revealed that Governor Umar Bago has a special interest in the organisation because of its importance to the actualization of the state urban renewal policy.
Dr. Abubakar observed that the urban renewal policy would only be possible when there was a clean and serene environment, and that NISEPA is the agency to provide such a clean and serene environment.
"The urban renewal project of His Excellency is hinged on a lot of fulcrums, and one of those cardinal fulcrums is the environment.
"There is no way you can succeed and have sustainable urban renewal without a clean and sustainable environment, and this is where NISEPA will come into play," said the new NISEPA boss.
He explained that the waste management process was not the responsibility of NISEPA alone, saying it was a process where every stakeholder must be involved to take responsibility for the waste he generated.
Dr. Abubakar also said that the governor had given him a matching order to change the face of the agency and make it a revenue-generating agency that can stand on its own within the next six months.
He added that he had come to add value and move the agency forward, not to witch-hunt anyone, but that anyone who stands on his way towards achieving his goal would be moved aside, saying "it is not going to be business as usual."
While welcoming the new NISEPA General Manager earlier, the overseeing General Manager, Hajiya Halimat Yakubu Ndanusa, said they were happy to receive the new general manager, whom she said, with his experience in waste management, NISEPA will move to greater heights.
She enumerated some of the challenges they were facing, including funding and a lack of the right equipment, as the ones they were using were not 21st century waste management standard equipment, believing that the coming of the new man would facilitate the provision of the right equipment.
Hajiya Halimat Ndanusa also assured the new general manager that the staff of the agency are dedicated to their duties and will give him their maximum cooperation to move the agency forward.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmed Dangiwa, says BUA Plc’s decision to reduce the price of cement to N3,500 per bag is a demonstration of the company’s commitment to improving lives.
This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Deputy Director of Information in the Ministry, Mr. Salisu Badamasi.
Badamosi said that Dangiwa made the remark in response to the announcement made on October 1 by the firm reducing the price of cement to N3,500 per bag.
“I commend BUA Cement Plc. for its socially responsible decision to reduce the price of cement.
“Accessible and affordable housing is a fundamental right.
“This move by BUA Cement Plc. will undoubtedly alleviate the challenges faced by our citizens.
“It demonstrates a shared commitment to improving the lives of our people and furthering the goals of sustainable urban development,” he said.
Dangiwa said that the proactive gesture would reduce the cost of cement, which is a major component of housing construction.
He also said that the firm’s action was in support of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu to provide affordable housing to Nigerians.
According to him, the soaring cost of cement has led to a drastic increase in the cost of building houses, thus making them unaffordable for the average Nigerian.
Dangiwa further stated that the decision represented a substantial stride towards easing the financial burden on aspiring homeowners.
He said that since assuming office, he has made the delivery of affordable housing a top priority, in line with the renewed hope agenda of the present administration.
“The escalating prices of building materials, especially cement, have placed a daunting obstacle on the path to home ownership for many Nigerians.
“BUA Cement Plc.’s decision to reduce the price of cement to N3,500 is highly commendable.
“It reflects their understanding of the struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians, and it is a positive step towards making housing more affordable and attainable for all,” he said.
The minister said that the initiative would benefit individual homeowners, stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and lift many Nigerians out of poverty by fostering affordable housing construction and infrastructure development.
He urged other industry players to emulate the BUA example, saying that they should consider the social impact of their decisions.
The minister said collaborative efforts between the government and private sector entities were essential in overcoming the challenges of housing affordability and ensuring the realisation of decent living conditions for every citizen.
