…To Update State Environmental Laws

The Rivers State House of Assembly (RVHA) says the House would update  the state environmental laws to curb the renewed environmental challenges in the state.
The chairman of the Assembly’s Committee on Environment, Hon Christian Ahiakwo, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen to commemorate the World Environment Day  in the state.
He regretted that many companies and individuals were no longer complying strictly with the state and federal environmental laws, because of the failure of the relevant agencies to enforce the laws.
Ahiakwo recalled how the State House of Assembly was seriously embarking on visits to companies operating in the state as part of its oversight function with a view to identifying the key factors responsible for the environmental challenges in the state.
Ahiakwo hinted that  the House would liaise with the relevant environmental agencies and the Ministry of Environment to proffer measures to tackle such environmental challenges such as black soot, climate change, floods, among others.
He called on the public to make a clean environment their priority in the state.
“Let us take cleaning of our environment as something we have to do on a daily basis. It is for our own good. Dumping of refuse in drainage, channels, exposing wastes in the river, illegal bunkering, gas flaring by companies and incessant destruction of  economic tress are some of the environmental challenges in the state”, he stated.
He stressed the need for stakeholders, governments, and relevant environmental agencies to take proactive measures, including awareness campaign, to protect and preserve the environment in the state.

Enoch Epelle