RSG Warns Against Building On Water Right Of Ways

The Rivers State Gov
ernment has warned residents of Port Harcourt and environs against building on water right of way.
The Commissioner for Environment, Dr Nyema Weli gave this warning while monitoring this month’s environmental sanitation exercise last weekend at Rumuolumeni in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The Commissioner who was     represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Godwin Mpi said that such act was capable of coursing flooding in the affected areas.
The commissioner particularly deplored the altitude of some residents of Rumuolumeni for building on the Oroto Rumuepirikom  creek, noting that such act can lead to the submergence of the entire Rumuolumeni community by water.
He said that the ministry of Environment would undertake another inspection to the  area with a view to verifying the claims of the residents that their buildings were dully approved by the Government through the Ministry of Urban Development.
According to him both the buildings and the culverts have a lot of question marks, stressing that officials of the Ministry of Urban Development have to reexamine their approvals to avoid any disaster in the area.
Speaking earlier the Assistant General Overseer of Christian Peace Centre, Pastor Emmanuel Austin said that the Church has the approval of the Ministry of Urban Development  to build in the area.
Pastor Austin said that the Church building is not blocking the water channels stressing that the  flow of the water does not affect activities in the church.
Some residents who spoke to newsmen expressed fear that the community may sink if nothing is done about the creek.
They said that the efforts of the community is not enough to check the continuous blockage of the creek by some elements and commended the Ministry of Environment for the visit.
Also speaking, the state Acting Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOT) Mr Oliver Wollugbom said that time has come for residents of the state to follow due process in the construction of buildings.
Mr Wollugbom said that, this has become necessary to save the city from being flooded especially during the rainy season.