Ogun State Government has said it is set to create smart cities through its regeneration schemes across all the urban centres in the state.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who made this known during the year 2024 World Environment Day (WED), with the theme, “Achieving the Smart City Agenda Through Climate Change Resilience and Urban Afforestation”, at June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, saying climate change was a phenomenon which everyone should actively participate in for a safer society.
Represented by his deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Governor Abiodun informed that his administration had implemented initiatives to enhance green spaces, promote sustainable transportation and reduce carbon emissions with over 100 hectares of land in Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Ota and other locations, restructured to become environmentally friendly through public private partnerships.
The Governor stressed that it had become imperative to collectively ensure a safe environment, informing that his government was collaborating with urban planners, architects and relevant stakeholders to ensure this was achievable.
He appreciated President Bola Tinubu-led government for establishing the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and the Green Economic Solutions, to oversee the nation’s climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, saying it was aimed at achieving Carbon Neutrality in Nigeria by year 2060.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Forestry, Engr. Oludotun Taiwo and his counterpart in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, TPL Tunji Odunlami, commended the governor’s efforts in fostering a sustainable environment in the state, saying achieving a smart city agenda through climate change resilience and urban afforestation, requires collaboration of relevant stakeholders, as government alone could not shoulder the task.
The Director-General, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Dr. Zachariah Buba Yaduma, in his paper on achieving a smart city agenda, explain that achieving green infrastructure, certain things must be put in place, including urban forestry, management of parks in the cities and creation of open green space among others, stating that emission reduction from energy use and transportation, creation of data base, efficient energy use, good urban planning, adequate waste management amongst others, must also come to play.
Earlier, Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Ola Oresanya, said this year’s global theme was reviewed to reflect the peculiarity of the state’s ecosystem, adding that the event was an opportunity for the state to strengthen elements of strategic planning and enhance coherence among socio-economic and environmental policies.
He expressed the determination of the state to create a new line of economy through the green bond and other green financing mechanism for decarbonisation of extractive industries by converting municipal solid waste and biomass into refuse derived fuel and other alternative energy sources.
In her remarks, a global safety expert, Mrs. Dominga Odebunmi, commended the state government’s efforts towards promoting and enhancing safety, saying voluntarily embracing safety culture would help to reduce accidents, fire incidents, draw consciousness towards sustaining the environment, urging residents of the state to be alert to environmental issues, thereby becoming safety conscious.
