The South-south Edo State Government has commenced the process of forest allocation to prospective timber concessionaires as part of efforts to reopen the forest.

The chairman of Forestry Commission, Edward Obiaw, said interested timber licensees, saw-millers, corporate organisations and timber contractors would have to apply.

Recall that the government had announced the prohibition of all forms of timber exploitation from August 2021 following the expiration of the three-year circle of 2018/2021 forest allocation in the state.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Arc. Gbolahan Oki, has charged staff of the Agency to maintain professional conduct in all their official dealings.

Speaking at a meeting held recently with the staff of LASBCA at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, after resuming official duties, Arc. Oki expressed his gratitude to God for his vindication and subsequent reinstatement by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Oki, who thanked the members of staff for keeping the flag of the agency flying while he was away, promised to work even harder on his return to ensure sanity in the built environment of Lagos State.

He noted that more work has to be done to rid the State of illegal and non-conforming structures that could lead to building collapse, especially as the rainy season approaches.

The General Manager emphasised that all hands must be on deck to enforce the zero-tolerance to building collapse policy of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Lagos State.

He enjoined everyone to contribute their quota and prioritise teamwork in achieving the mandates of LASBCA and ultimately the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda of the State Government.

Recall that the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Arc. Gbolahan Oki was suspended in November, 2021, following the collapse of a 21-storey high-rise building along Gerrard Road in Ikoyi.

Lake Volta is a large artificial reservoir which is made with the Akosombo Dam, located in the southern part of the Republic of Ghana.

With a surface area of about 8,502 square km (3,283 square mi), the average depth of Volta is around 19 meters (62 feet), and the length of the shore is impressive 4,800 km (2,980 mi) long.

The main rivers that fed the lake are from the Volta Basin which are the Black Volta, the White Volta and the Red Volta, whereas interestingly both the White Volta River and the Black Volta River formerly converged where the middle of the reservoir now lies.

The primary outflow of the Lake Volta is the Volta River which then goes to the Atlantic Ocean, in the southernmost part of Ghana.

There are some interesting features within the lake, as are the Dodi, Dwarf and Kporve islands, nonetheless, Digya National Park touches the western shores.

The construction of the dam began in 1961, and it was completed in 1965, which right away gave easy access via the water from Ghana’s northern savanna with the coast.

Being a major fishing ground and providing irrigation water for the farmland in the dry Accra Plains which are lying immediately below the dam-site, Lake Volta is an important part of Ghana’s economy, and the protection of the lake is imperative to the political leaders and the people living around it.

In addition to this, the Akosombo Dam also provides electricity, with a generating capacity of about 912 megawatts, which is then used not just by Ghana, but also by the neighboring Togo and Benin.

With little development around the lake, there are 20 small villages which hug the shore, most without road transportation or electricity, they are an interesting place for the visitors to buy local products and crafts, and see a different perspective of the rural Ghana.

There is a development which is considered to be done by harvesting the submerged timber from the flooded forests within the lake, which is increasing the safety of the lake and bringing additional revenue to the local industry.

Still, increasingly becoming a popular destination, the town of Akosombo which is right next to the artificial dam, offers interesting fishing excursions and water sports, and with the local vacation resorts and lodgings in the area, the tourists can have a spectacular vacation time.

An interesting and amazing natural beauty created by the people who know how to use it in order to get the best of it.

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has called on stakeholders in the production and manufacturing sector of the State to ensure proper handling and management of hazardous chemicals to avoid further degradation of the environment, just as it recognised some organisations for having in place the best chemical storage facilities and embracing self-regulation and compliance.

The General Manager of LASEPA, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, made the call recently at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the Agency, charging them to be professional in the discharge of their duties and also flush out quacks to guide against preventable occupational hazards.

Fasawe noted that the hazardous nature of chemicals makes proper handling of the substances by all stakeholders essential, advocating routine training to empower them with best practices and also keep them abreast of new ideas and methods applicable in chemical management.

In her words: “This engagement was designed to complement the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of the State Government, especially the Health and Environment pillar, and identify the relationship between a friendly environment and a healthy society. Chemicals are good friends if well managed. They can also be the worst enemies if not. Therefore, we must adhere strictly to rules guiding its proper management”.

She urged all organisations to follow the State Government’s guidelines for approved chemical storage, adding that the agency frowns at dangerous and unacceptable chemical disposal storage practices, averring that one of the causes of cancer and some skin-related diseases is improper handling of chemicals.

The General Manager also challenged everyone to collectively fight against pollution by serving as watchdogs against unfriendly activities such as indiscriminate disposal of chemicals and hazardous substances in the State.

She said: “Today’s event shows that, beyond the enforcement and compliance responsibilities of the agency, we are mindful of efforts put in place by some of you to ensure compliance at your workplace. To this group, we say thank you, for a job well done”.

“Your special recognition is to encourage others to adopt friendly protocols towards handling and management of chemicals and hazardous materials in their organisations and avoid indiscriminate exposure of workers to chemical substances and accidental explosion”, Fasawe stated

She disclosed that LASEPA has a mini plant for appropriate disposal and management of waste chemicals in such a way that it will not have any effect on the environment, urging concerned organisations to liaise with the agency for assistance in the management and disposal of chemical waste.

Some of the panelists at the forum, including Dr. Ademola Sonibare, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University; Mr. Abimbolu Babatunde, Chairman, Blendtech Limited; Mr. Leslie Adogame, Executive Director, SPRADEV Nigeria; and Mr. Adebodun-Toplonu Sewanu, Environmental Resources Manager, advocated adherence to standard operating guidelines in usage and storage of chemicals, use of Personal Protective Equipment by employees of organisations that deal with chemical-related substances.

They also spoke extensively on the risk involved in the release of chemicals into the air and prevention of leakages amongst others.