Following predictions of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) that Rivers State will this year witness unprecedented rainfall which will result in flooding and coastal erosion, the state government has called on residents  to pay urgent attention to protecting the environment.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Rufus Godwin who made the call during this year’s World Environment Day celebration in Port Harcourt, said that to avert the imminent danger, residents of the state needed to embark on massive tree planting, desilt their drains that had been blocked by indiscriminate disposal of refuse and engage in other activities that would bring about cleaner, safer and healthier environment.

“There is going to be unprecedented rainfall that will carry with it the consequences of dustiness. We’re going to have rainstorm and windstorm and with it, you will have trees that will be violently uprooted. So you need to be very careful in your environment. Ensure that your trees are not too tall and poorly kept to constitute a risk of falling violently on passers by”, he said.

He enjoined members of the public to stop indiscriminate felling or trimming of trees but instead they should contact the Ministry of Environment to enlist the help of trained personnel.

The Permanent Secretary said the theme of this year’s World Environment Day Celebration “Forest; nature at your service”, should challenge everybody to be friendly to nature.

“The synergy, between plants and humans shows us the synergy of life. We all need to be together, one cannot exist without the other. And that is why the United Nations choose this year’s to challenge us to be friendly to nature, friendly to the trees”, he said.

In a goodwill message, the State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Andy Nweye appealed to local government chairmen in the state to tow the line of the Ministry of Environment and ensure that trees were planted in all the local government areas, adding that, that “is the only way we can help to reduce the issue of ozone layer depletion, climate change and all that”.

There were also good will messages from the Zonal Controller, Federal Ministry of Environment, Engr. Raymond Uzoho, Chairman, Rivers state Environmental Sanitation Authority, Mr. Isoboye Jack, the Executive Director, centre for Environmental and Community Development, Mr. John Akinnuba, and a representative of the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), Mr. Kingsley Nwogbid.

The highpoint of the event was the symbolic plantning of trees by the Permanent Secretary and some dignitaries.

Calista Ezeaku