The Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Environmental Protection Agency Chief Nemi W. Adoki had said the agency will soon tackle the environmental degradation, oil spillages and it ecology challenges among others.
Chief Adoki made the remark during a press briefing over the weekend with the Nigerian Union of Journalist NUJ. According to Chief Adoki the birth of the agency is anchored by the love of the governor of Rivers State Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi on the environmental issues especially his deep desire to nurture the environment into a more sustainable and manageable kind.
The Sole Administrator maintained that the agency was created on 20th September, 2012, to tackle the almost decaying environment crying for help.
He listed some of the agency’s mandate to include, to produce a new enforceable law for the agency to provide good leadership in charting a new course for acceptable environmental practice in Rivers State. To monitor and enforce practicable environmental programmes for an efficient and sustainable environment.
Others are to ensure pollution free environment by monitoring and enforcing compliance with existing rules, policies and regulations in the state. To create committees and taskforces from time to time for the enforcement of laws, regulations and policies of the state in particular and the nation at large and to coordinate and liaise with stakeholders within and outside Nigeria on matters of environmental standard, regulations and enforcement among others.
He however, told journalists that some of the programmes of the agency since its creation were the appointment of a nine man environmental technical advisory committee, creation of LGA officers, stakeholder’s forum/workshop, provision of office accommodation, the production of a new bill that will repeal the obsolete edict of 1994 etc.
The sanitation boss maintained that the agency is to establish an environmental road-map in the state as a Director-General will also be appointed when the agency will be fully established by law.
The Sole Administrator posited that very soon oil spill will be a thing of the past since the agency will tackle it headlong as all the states including oil conglomerate will comply with international standard especially on protection of the environment.
Chief Adoki also explained that the agency has the following directorates such as Directorate of administration and Finance, Directorate of Pollution Control and Ecology conservation, Directorate of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Directorate of Planning and Research and Statistic.
He used the event to condemn the activities of dredgers and those polluting the sea, saying measures will be taking immediately to protect the environment.
Ask whether he will not conflict with oil operators in the state with regard to oil spills, he said they will obey international standard, saying NGO’s and international organizations are already interested.
On the issue why the agency needs new law, he maintained that there is a gap between the old laws that need some changes.
Ask how he will tackle the issue of attitude of people on destroying the environment, he promised to use vigorous campaign.
On taskforce, if such will not bring touting into the system, the RESPA boss stated that most of the taskforce will be on the sea but maintained that there will be proper check.
Answering question on water quality since Ogoni people are now leaving in fear of polluted water, he said they will raise alarm when necessary.
It could be recall that the agency came into existence through the Rivers State Environmental protection agency law, Cap 53Vol. III, Laws of Rivers State (formerly Edict No. 2 of 1994)
Some of the members of the technical committee who accompanied the sole Administrator were Mr. Napoleon Ewule, Mrs. Nuigi Brown, Pastor Harry among others. ###
Pius Dukor
