The Executive Direc
tor of Centre for Development and Support Initiative (CEPSI), Mrs Mma Ogbanga, says the Federal Government must be held responsible for the continuous environmental pollution of the Niger Delta.
Speaking in a telephone interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, Mrs Ogbanya said that, the federal government must be blamed for failing to address pollution related issues in the region.
She listed the non implementation of the United Nations Environment  (UNEP) report on the pollution of Ogoniland, the continuous flaring of gases by multinational companies in the region  as some of the areas in which the government should be blamed.
Mrs Ogbanga also decried the non passage of the Petroleum Industry  Bill,  (PIB)pointing out that the Bill specifies some punitive measures for acts of pollution in the region.
“The PIB is very specific, its says that anybody who pollute the environment should pay a fee “she said.
She said that the sooner the bill is passed, the better for the Niger Delta.
The CEDSI Director also said that, local communities can also contribute towards checking pollution in their environment.
According to her, the local communities can form vigilante to safeguard pipelines, sensitise their youths against illegal oil  bunkering as well as cooperate with the security agencies to check any act of pollutions in their areas.
“The local communities have a role to play. They can form vigilante to check pipeline vandalisation as well as sensitise their youths against illegal bunkering” she  said.