The National Orientation
Agency (NOA) Rivers State has warned that the continous abuse of the environment through illegal oil bunkering and other acts, is as a threat to human survival and existence.
State Director of the Agency Mr Oliver Wollugbom who said this at its 14th Round Table discussion on security awareness and Environmental sustainability in Port Harcourt also stressed the need for the issues of gas flaring, generator fumes and blocking of drains to be addressed.
Wollugbom also listed pipeline vandalism, open defection cutting of  trees, oil theft, oil spillage and flooding as some other issues the authorities must urgently addressed.
He said that, because of the environment, the Agency was working hard to increase public opinion on the dangers.
The National Orientation Agency whose mandate is to orientate and mobilise Nigerians to do the right thing has invited stakeholders in the various states to come together to discuss objectively the issue at stake with a view to proffering solutions to these challenges he said.
He also advised those whose children were involved in illegal oil bunkering to call them to order and save the environment from destruction.
In his contribution, the Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency Mr Ade Adeogua said that continuous pollution of the environment through illegal oil bunkering is not in the interest of the society.
Adeogun also decried the incessant cutting down of trees, noting that it is unnatural for society to be left without trees as everything in nature depends on each other.
“We damaged our environment and made it not suitable for living he said.
On his part, the Chief Superintendent of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Rivers State Command, Dr Ogbonna Emmanuel said that illegal bunkering was destructive to the environment stressing that those involved in it should be advised to desist forth with.