Environmental sanitation workers cleaning the scene of the Nyanya explosion in Abuja recently.
The Niger Delta Develop
ment Commission (NDDC) has pledged its readiness to partner with environmental based organisation such as, Wetlands International Africa, and others to check the ravaging effects of Nipa Palm in Rivers State.
The commissioner representing Rivers State on the Board of the commission Chief (Dr) Ephraim Sobere Etete Owoh, disclosed this at the 27th convocation exhibition ceremony of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.
Chief (Dr) Etete Owoh said that the commission is desirous to work with willing partners to check the spread and devastation being caused by the Nipa Palm to some Rivers communities.
According to him, NDDC wants to ensure the return of the mangroves to places in which the Nipa Palm have taken over.
The commissioner also said that the commission has included in its scholarship programme, environmental pollution and conflict management studies.
Meanwhile, the management centre for biodiversity wetland and climate change has concluded the successful mappings of 18 lakes in the Niger Delta.
The principal investigator at the centre, Dr Onwuteika John, who spoke to The Tide in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt, said that the mapping was in conjunction with Wetlands International Africa based on Senegal.
Dr Onwuteika said that the lakes are located in Rivers and Bayelsa States.
The said that the essence of the mapping was to ensure exact locations of lakes and their sizes as well as the effects on the local environment.
He said that the mapping was part of the consultancy contruct of the centre with the Wetlands International Africa, adding that the areas of coverage include, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States.
According to him, the mapping will facilitate research activities, provide adequate livelihood for people within the catchment areas as well as distinguish between lakes in the Nipa Palm and mangrove vegetations.