Environment: RSG Seeks World Bank’s Aid

The  Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has called on the visiting World Bank Environment Monitoring Group to assist the state  government in tackling  ecological challenges confronting the state.
Wike made the call in Government House, Port Harcourt, when  members of the Rights Action Group, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) mandated  by the World Bank  to assess Millennium Development Goals  (MDGs) projects visited him at the end of their three days tour to impacted sites in Rivers State.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, expressed satisfaction with the team for demonstrating interest in the environmental challenges facing the state, and urged  the delegation to transmit the exact situation on ground in their assessment report. “Let me thank  you for the painstaking job you have done. I am happy that you came to see things for yourself”, he remarked.
The state chief executive noted that the visit has opened up new windows of partnership, and assured them of the state government’d cooperation in the task  of ensuring a healthy environment in the state.
Earlier, Team leader of Rights Monitoring Group, Mr.  Olufemi Aduwo, said the group had visited  several parts of the state to gather facts on impacted areas.
Aduwo observed that a high chemical   concentration of industrial wastes empties into the Rivers in  Okrika and other areas, noting  that  the World Bank would be requested to intervene to  ameliorate the plight of the people. The team leader thanked the state government for the warm reception and hospitality accorded them through out their stay in the state.