The Rivers State Commissioner for Environment Dr. Nyema Weli has urged Oil and Gas free Zone Company, Onne, to respect Environmental Sanitation law in order to ensure peace and allow business thrive in the state.
Dr. Weli gave the warning while monitoring this month’s environmental sanitation exercise in Port Harcourt.
The Environment Commissioner frowned at some companies vehicles operating with police escort during sanitation hours and wondered why they should not respect the sanitation law.
The commissioner expressed worry that the police who were supposed to enforce law are those contravening the sanitation law, stressing that as they do not respect the law of sanitation they will not have the moral justification to arrest those who disrespect or violate it, promising to refer the matter to their superior officers who will handle it strictly.
Dr. Weli enjoined the public to always clean their environment and not to wait until monthly sanitation exercises in order to avoid diseases and sickness.
He commended the traders at the Bishop Okoye Street, Mile 3 Port Harcourt for participating actively in this month’s sanitation exercise and urged them not to relent, but should clean their environment every day.
Meanwhile, three travelers from Delta State to the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone Port Harcourt during sanitation hours have been arrested by the Rivers State Ministry of Environment.
In a chat with journalists during the sanitation exercise, the newly appointed Director of the Rivers State National Orientation Agency (NOA) Mr. Oliver Wolugbom called on the people of Rivers State to always clean their environment to ensure clean environment in all parts of the State and commended the state government for sensitizing the public on the environmental sanitation exercise and advised them not to relent.
Those in the commissioner’s entourage included, the newly appointed Rivers State Director of NOA Mr. Oliver Wolugbom, Mr. S.B Josiah of NASA, the Permanent Secretary Rivers State Ministry of Environment Mr. George Nweke, the press and some directors of the Rivers State Ministry of Environment.
The places visited included Mile 3, Mile 1, Mile 2, Nkpolu, Rumuigbo, Obio Road, among others. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
