‘Gas Flaring, Responsible For Hot Weather’

The Rivers State Government, says that flaring of gas in the Niger Delta region is responsible for the current hot weather being experienced in the region.

The Commissioner for Environment, Dr Nyema Weli who made the assertion yesterday in an interview with newsmen in his office noted that only the Federal Government could control gas flaring in the country.

Dr Weli, however, said that government was explaining ways of mitigating the negative impacts of the climatic change on the people of the state.

He also said that government was looking for ways to checkmate flooding particularly as the raining season was fast approaching, adding that part of the measures included opening up the drainages in Port Harcourt City and its environs as well as sensitising the people on the dangers of building houses on water right of ways.

The commissioner further said that government was looking at the option of partnering with private investors to provide public conveniences at designated centres in Port Harcourt City and its environs, while business outfits would be compelled to provide conveniences for public use.

On smoking in public places, he said that the relevant laws prohibiting smoking in public places would be revisited in view of current realities on ground.

Meanwhile, a professor of Geodesies, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Prof Dagogo Fubara says the current climate condition in the country has underscored the need for measures to checkmate gas flaring and other industrial emissions in the country.

In an interview with The Tide recently in Port Harcourt, Prof Fubara said that the government could no longer gloss over the fact that the heat being experienced currently in the country was as a result of climate change.