Business
GPHCDA To Promote Environmental Sustainability
The Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA), Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam says the Authority will continue to support government’s policies and programmes aimed at promoting environmental sustainability in line with the United Nations environmental standards and regulations.
Mrs. Cookey-Gam, represented by the Director of Development Control, Sir Oliver Ngozi Worgu, said this last Sunday on the occasion to mark the 2011 World Environment Day, with the theme Forest: Nature at Your Service, organised by the Authority.
Sir Worgu further stated that the Authority, through its development control exercise, will protect the open space corridors from human activities in order to maintain the ecological integrity as conservative enclaves; pointing out that in building a world class city, the authority will conform with UN’s World Environmental Standards. She stated that GPH will preserve all natural habitats to checkmate flooding and other environment hazards in the new city.
The Director also advised individuals to abide by the master plan of the new city and key into government’s urban renewal programme; adding that those who wished to buy or develop their properties in the New City should visit the authority.
In his goodwill message, Professor Alex Chinda of the Institute of Pollution Studies (IPS), Rivers State University of Science and Technology, noted that “the World Environment Day, always supported by the authority, provides an avenue for the public to understand and effectively contribute to the increased economic, social and ecological security that threatens future stock of natural capital or endangered ecological functioning and life-support systems”.
He further enjoined members of the public to take advantage of the opportunity to gain knowledge on critical environmental issues that would help solve socio-economic problems relating to the environment that will provide maximum benefit from the conservation, management and use of biological resources.
This year’s celebration featured seminar, paper-minimisation campaign in Greater Port Harcourt, essay competition and prizes among selected secondary schools within the Phase 1A of the new city.