Ogun govt to spend N203.3m to control gully erosion in 2018

THE Ogun government says it will spend N203.3 million to control gully erosion in 2018.

Mr Bolaji Oyeleye, the State Commissioner for Environment, disclosed this on Monday, while defending the ministry’s 2018 budget proposal before the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation at the assembly complex, Abeokuta.

Oyeleye noted that the money would be spent on execution of designs already prepared for amelioration and rehabilitation of some already environmentally-degraded areas in the state.

Represented by Mr Kunle Osota, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, the commissioner added that N203.3 million was to prevent degradation and arrest gully formation that could cause damage to the ecosystem.

Oyeleye said N87.9 million had been earmarked for the rehabilitation and repair of waterways across the state.

He added that the ministry had proposed N25 million for repairing and rehabilitation of existing markets and parks across the state.

‘‘The ministry will embark on beautification and landscaping at various locations such as Totoro, Ago-Oba roundabout, Ijaiye roundabout, Ake roundabout and Sagamu/Ikenne roundabout.

“In 2018, we want to acquire 12 Mercedes-Benz Compactor Trucks, 18 Global Power Push Mower, four tricycle Tip Loaders for effective evacuation of refuse across the state,’’ he said.

He said the ministry had proposed N4.5 billion as capital expenditure, while recurrent expenditure would gulp N625 million with N665 million as expected revenue. (NAN)