Date Published: 04/07/10

PRESS RELEASE                                            6 TH APRIL, 2010

Odey hingers National Development on Environmental Sustainability

Returned Minister of Environment, Mr. John Ogar Odey has expressed confidence in the calibre of staffers of the ministry of environment where he has been reassigned to serve the country.

Odey, who immediately on his reasignment addressed members of Staff, called for continued cooperation and   pledged his loyalty to Nigeria and the Acting President. He said no meaningful development can be attained without proper development of the environment and its sustainability.

“Let me pledge like I did before all Nigerians and the acting President this afternoon that I would do my best and also sincerely do my job.”  He said.  According to him, “from the charge the acting president gave us this afternoon, it is now for  us to hit the ground and keep moving I must say that my own job is easier because I have come back to meet a better workforce,” he added.

Speaking  further,  Odey  said  he  left the ship  at the  Environment Ministry  steaming saying, “i have no doubt of the capabilities of the crop of officers and  I must say that with the report and what I have seen the  Environmrnt  ship is sailing. It is therefore very important that this ship would require a greater steam than we earlier provided to keep sailing.”

The Honourable Minister also commended the staff of the ministry for the rousing welcome which he got from the Ministry. He told the staffers that all their function as staff of the Federal Ministry was to service the interests of posterity. He encouraged them to ensure that they leave indelible footprint so that the future generation would identify them and improve on them.

Noting that being away has given him a wider horizon on the way and manner to approach some environmental issues, the Minister noted that no nation can attain meaningful development without proper attention to the needs of the environment, saying “we must strive to achieve environmental sustainability and this cuts across all spheres of life like agriculture.”

Clement  Egbeama  

Chief Press Secretary