Foremost Environmentalist and Technocrat, Engr Wai-Ogosu has called for a new environmental awareness in Rivers State and the Niger Delta to set the pace for a new era of environmental development in the region.
The renowned Environmentalist who spoke with The Tide in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt said the consequences of glossing over the development of the environment sector were grave, and as such needed to be averted through, “stringent and proactive measures.”
Wai- Ogosu who is a former President of the Nigeria Environmental Society (NES) said Rivers State as the hub of Oil and Gas was inundated with, “myriad of municipal and industrial activities resulting in indiscriminate solid wastes management, depletion of natural resources and ecological disaster in the state and the entire Niger Delta.”
He pointed out that: “Rivers State is under severe threat of environmental pollution of the beehive of oil exploratory activities from many multinationals that prospect for the fortunes of the state.
He said: “ it is imperative for the government to prioritise the development of the environment sector by putting unwinking eyes and attention on the activities of these prospecting companies and the general abuses on the environment. “
The expert raised concern of the, “despoliation of the air quality, degeneration of the land with devastating consequences on food production, health conditions and displacement of natural sense of livelihoods.”
The expert urged the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike to appoint a professional with verifiable experience as commissioner for environment in the state, to expand the frontiers of partnership and development of the environment.
He emphasised on the need for experts in the environmental sector to make inputs in policy formulations and implementations .
Wai-Ogosu who is also a lecturer at the Institute of Geo Sciences and Space Technology called for introduction of environmental studies in Primary and Secondary Schools.

Taneh Beemene