Abia Needs N6bn for Its Ecological Problems

Vanguard (Lagos), 29 April 2002

ABIA State requires N6 billion to tackle its ecological problems which have devastated much of its land, the governor, Chief Orji Kalu has said.

The devastation has also resulted in flooding, destruction of farmland and buildings as well as obstructing development , the governor told reporter at the weekend in Umuahia.

I have even personally discussed with President Olusegun Obasanjo and he has made a promise but I am still waiting for approval and release of the money, he said.

I will soon update my request to the Federal Government on the problem, because the state needs assistance, we don t have such resources, so the Federal Government should assist the governor said.

He said that the state spent an average of N12 million monthly in clearing refuse in its two major cities, Aba and Umuahia.

According to him, there has been a lot of improvement in environmental cleanliness, particularly in Aba, a commercial city which generates more than 500 tonnes of waste daily.

Government is considering commercialising the waste management, he added.