The Delta State Task Force on Environment says it has proposed N300 million for its activities in the 2022 fiscal year.

The head of the agency, Silvester Oromoni, disclosed this in Asaba when he led other officials to defend the 2022 budget before the State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Oil and Gas.

Mr Oromoni said N165 million out of the fund would be for recurrent expenditure while N135 million is for capital expenditure.

He told the lawmakers that before now, the agency did not have a capital budget line, noting that the new development was a result of the nature of its activities.

Mr Oromoni added that the proposed money would enable the agency to acquire Hilux Pickup vans for its zonal offices in Warri, Agbor, and Uvwie and the head office in Asaba and procure towing vans.

According to him, the agency needs a conducive and well-equipped office accommodation for better service delivery.

On implementing the 2021 budget, Mr Oromoni said N80 million was approved for the agency, which led to a poor budget performance.

He, however, expressed optimism that 2022 would be better as the economy was gradually picking up with the easing of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which negatively affected the global economy.

Responding, the chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Oil and Gas, Ekpotuareyin Pullah, advised the agency officials to seek the enactment of relevant laws that would back the agency’s operations.

Mr Pullah assured the agency of the committee’s support in line with its mandate.

(NAN)