The Kogi state Government is collaborating with National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on marine waste management and other environmental issues, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, the Kogi Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, said.
The commissioner made the disclosure at a stakeholders meeting with the Managing Director of NIWA, Mr Boss Mustapha last week in Lokoja.
Osikoya said the area of collaboration include issues of marine waste management, annual flooding, climate change, shoreline span, social recreational areas, coastline structure and desalting of rivers.
She said “we are strategically articulating key areas that we want NIWA to assist the state under their purview, and we need a whole lot of public social responsibility to strengthen that.
“These areas of collaboration mirror exactly what Gov. Yahaya Bello always
advocate; we will be very proactive in relating with those issues and see what we can bring to Kogi people.
“This is the first time the ministry is engaging NIWA and the response is very encouraging.”
Responding, the NIWA boss said it was a good development having the opportunity to partner with Kogi Government.
He said, “it is a great achievement in that we are supposed to work together as government to synergize and make sure that we do not have conflicting areas which is first and fundamental.”
Mustapha added that Kogi had a lot to offer because of the sizeable portion of the two major rivers within the shores of Kogi with prospects for navigation, tourism, shoreline cities and riverside businesses.
“It is the first that has happened ever since I assumed duty as managing director; it is quite commendable that the two commissioners took out time to come so we can share ideas.”
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