Forum Identifies Climate Change Effects In Rivers

Some Stakeholders in the environment sector have blamed the perennial floodings in parts of the state and the continous rise in temperature in the state as some of the effects of climate change in the state.
They said this at a stakeholders consultative meeting on climate change in Gort Harcourt.
The event was organised by the Center for Creative Development Strategies inconjuction with the British Council,Agent for Citizen transformation and Awareness and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation and adaptation in Rivers state.
The forum also listed other effects as the black soot ,rise in water levels, especially in coastal communities and deforestation as well as disappearance of some wetlands in the state
They said the state is facing a dreadful impact of climate change.
The stakeholders, however, blamed the problem on the unfriendly environmental altitude of some residents of the state.
While commending Governor Nyesom Wike for his effort to stamp out illegal oil bunkering in the state, they however, regretted that despite government’s effort in this direction, the nefarious activities are still going on in some parts of the state.
The forum particularly mentioned a community in one of the upland local government areas where neither crops grow in their farms nor fishes  are find in their rivers.
Speaking, the forum chairperson, Mrs Uloma Gift Akanh said what is needed now is sensitisation of the people on the effect of climate change .
She said time has come when people should ensure that their behaviours did not affect the environment.
Also speaking, The Executive Director of the Center for Creative Development Strategies, Mrs Nancy Iheduru, said the event is being organised in some local government and areas.
She listed the local government areas as,Obio/Akpor,Gokana Port Harcourt Eleme, among others.
Iheduru said the the situation is to sensitize the people on the effect of climate change and how to avoid it.

By: John bibor & Oribim Ibama