The Rivers State
Government will tomorrow join its counterparts in the country to celebrate this year’s World Environment Day.
The event which has its theme: Small Island Development States” will hold on the 5th of June 2014 at the Civic Centre Mainbowl, Port Harcourt.
A statement made available to newsmen indicates that the event will be under the chairmanship of Hon. (Mrs) Victoria Nyeche, Chairman House Committee on Environment, while the state Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, is the Special Guest of Honour.
The guest speaker is Professor Winston Bellgam, while the state Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Nyema Welli as chief host.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Ministry of Environment has decried the continuous flaring of gas by oil companies.
The permanent secretary, Dr Godwin Mpi, who said this at a thinksgiving service of the Salvation Ministries Port Harcourt as part of activities marking the celebration of the event, said that the activities of oil companies had become a big threat to the environment.
According to him, the world must rise up against flaring.
He said that the ministry would continue to enforce policies and programmes to protect environment from degradation.
Meanwhile, coordinator of Rivers State Sanitation Marshalls, Prince Sodin Akiagba has called on corporate organizations to assist the government to improve environmental cleanliness in the state.
Prince Akiagba told The Tide that this years World Environment Day should be used to sensitise the people on the importance of environmental cleanliness.
He said that campaign against building on water right of ways should also be part of the celebration.
Director of Administration, Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority, Mr I. A. M. Gogo (standing) addressing participants at a pre-conference to mark this year’s World Environment Day in Port Harcourt , recently. Photo: Ibioye Diama