ASABA/Nigeria: The Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa led Delta state government has once again reiterate it unreserved commitment to addressing the peculiar environmental needs of every communities in the state stating that it has carry out a baseline studies of all environmentally impacted communities with peculiar challenges already identified and various remedial mechanism is being harnessed to place environmental degraded communities in the state on the path of environmental prosperity.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Barr. John Obukohwo Nani gave the assurance recently when he inspected the ongoing crucial mechanical desiltation of waterways and creating of new ones across the state to allow for easy flow of flood water in flood prone areas of the state.
The state government proactive approach according to the Hon. Commissioner has resulted in the massive opening of canals including creating of new ones in Isheagu, Ewulu, Agbor, Asaba, Sapele, Oghara, Ughelli, Warri, Osubi, Effurun, Aghalokpe and other towns in the state.
An impressed Hon. Nani appealed to Deltans to be patient with the government stating that “Though the environmental challenges are burdensome and cannot be comprehensively addressed immediately but with the flexible arrangement we are adopting to bring all interventionists agencies and the world bank to work with us in the implementation, will not only ease implementation task but will bring about a robust implementation of the flood control strategies”.
Speaking further, Hon. Nani stated that the baseline studies has identified gully erosion, coastal erosion, land degradation and lack of proper system as well as pollution as the most threatening and disturbing environmental challenges that the state is faced with. However, Hon. Nani explained that the state government has keyed into the Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Projects, a world bank assisted programme aimed at addressing land degradation and that five sites namely; Midomer/Iweriebor Erosion Site, Boji Boji Owa in Ika North-East; Obomkpa Erosion Site, Obomkpa and Ukwu-Nzu Erosion Site, both in Aniocha North Local Government Area; Jesse Flood Site, Jesse in Ethiope West Local Government Area and Oniocha-Uku Erosion Site in Ubulu-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area, has been selected for priority attention in the first phase.
“I am pleased to also inform you that as part of proactive measure to address coastal erosion and ocean surge, the Delta State government has keyed into the West African Coastal State programmes. The programme will facilitate funding to provide shoreline protection in coastal erosion rampaged communities in the state” he added.
Hon. Nani averred that the Delta State Oil producing Area Commission, Niger Delta Development Commission, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the ecological fund office, the World Bank and other relevant government MDAs and NGO are also being carried along in this sincere drive to ensure environmental prosperity for all deltans.
On the ongoing massive opening of waterways across the state, Hon. Nani expressed optimism that the government effort is already paying off as flood water are receding aggressively in erstwhile flood rampaged communities for the overall benefit of Deltans.
He also assured Deltans of Gov. Okowa’s strong determination and sincere commitments to meet the yearnings of all through the robust implementation of the Smart Agenda.
