RVHA Explains Visit To Firms …Harps On Environmental Standards

The Rivers State House of Assembly (RVHA) says its recent assessment visits to companies operating in the state are to generate factual and adequate data to enhance effective environmental planning for protection and healthy air- pollution.
The Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Environment, Hon Christian Ahiakwo disclosed this last Tuesday, when his committee called on Monier  Construction Company (MCC) in Port Harcourt.
He said the visit to companies and industries operating in the state were part of the Assembly’s oversight functions aimed at determining their level of compliance to the State and Federal Government’s environmental laws.
According to him, the assessment and data processing will assist the government in effective planning and implementation on the environment.
Ahiakwo  told the management of the company that the State House of Assembly is liaising with the State Ministry of environment to assess the Ambient Air Quality Standard of the state using statistical and the level of company’s compliance to the environmental laws in the state.
He said companies operating in the state must endeavour  to meet up the Ambient Air Quality Standard, which was established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean-Up air/Act (42)  that can be applied for both out door for and in-door across the country.
The committee chairman lauded MCC for its this level of compliance to the environmental laws and its commitment to accommodate unemployed indigenes to reduce youth restiveness in the state.
Earlier, the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Senator John Azuta Mbata said the company is up-to-date in its complaince to the environmental laws and standard.
He said the company is committed  to ensuring adequate protection of the  environment, and that it mandated all sub-contractors and consultants under its operation to under go every environmental screening process to have their certified documents.
Mbata said the company follows up to close any leakage that will bring about unhealthy environment in its area of operation.
The company’s General Manager, Omaka Oke took the committee members to project sites  to ascertain its level of compliance to a environmental laws of the state.