Group Lauds Assembly Over Passage Of Environmental Protection, Management Bill

Centre for Environment Human right And Development (CEARD) has described as a welcome development, the passage into law of the Rivers State Environmental protection and Management Amendment Bill.
The organization said this in a press release signed by the Director of programme Obodioekwe Steven a copy made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt.
The release said that the organization also considered the Bill as an improvement over the Environmental protection and management law no 7 of 2019 which criminalizes the illegal artisanal refining of crude oil also known as Kpofire.
The group also described artisanal refinery as a major source of environmental degradation in the state.
“It is a major contributor of dangerous hydrocarbon particulate matter known as black soot which has greatly polluted the air citizen, breath and coursed respiratory diseases.
“We are pleased to have participated in the legislative public heaving that led to the Bill”, CEHRD said.
The release also noted that the organization has been involved in aggressive campaigns to end black soot in the state.
“The campaigns which were inline with our core mandate of ensuring the protection and promotion of clean and healthy environment were aimed at instigating the authorities to take the actions towards solving the grove environmental problems.
“It is encouraging that the state Government has deemed it necessary to join the fight against kpofire.
“To us, the amended Bill, when signed into law, is an important piece of legislation that will protect citizen’s right to clean environment as contained in various human rights instruments including the Africa, charter on human and peoples rights and the un declaration on Human Rights it said.
The group also stressed that need for Governor Wike to ensure swift assent to the bill, while all necessary mechanisms for the implementation of the bill when signed into law be put in place.
It listed other key contributors to soot as; gas flaring, emission from asphalt production, abattoirs noting that these should be adequate mitigated.
“Social dimension, youth unemployment that makes Kpofire attractive should be adequately addressed.
“Most importantly we urged the Federal Government to ensure the availability of properly refined fuels at all times to make kpofire case attractive adding that it remain resolute in its campaigns for a safe healthy and clean environment which is a fundamental human right.

By: John Bibor