YENAGOA – The Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on Tuesday said that better
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”8″]
implementation and enforcement of environmental laws in the state would facilitate disaster [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
management.
Mr Roland Iyekoroghe, the Agency’s Director-General, told newsmen in Yenagoa that such laws would also promote safer city for the citizenry.
Iyekoroghe said that environmental and town planning laws were central in ensuring safer cities everywhere in the world.
“The inability to implement and enforce the laws in most states of the federation, especially in Bayelsa, has resulted in the abuse of our general surroundings, leading to the blocking of drainages.
“It has also led to improper refuse dumps, air and water pollution and our cities are unsafe due to these ugly practices.
“We urge the government of Bayelsa to make the law more effective; SEMA will continue to strive in liaising with the state government and relevant NGOs in creating awareness on laws relating to our environment,’’ he said.
Reacting to the situation, Prof Edmond Allison-Oguru, the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, said the state government was working hard in ensuring that such laws were effectively implemented and enforced.
“We will continue to be proactive in supporting the activities of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to reduce such disasters and promote safer environment.
“Bayelsa established the SEMA Office in the state in 2012 and this is a step in the right direction,” Oguru said.
Also, Mr Tari Ikpozo, Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners in Bayelsa, said the state was also on course in ensuring a better implementation and enforcement of environmental laws.
Ikpozo said that the institute had been campaigning on the ill-culture of refuse dumping and erection of structures on drains by the people.
“We are also campaigning on the vulnerability of the state to flooding and other related disasters,” he added. (NAN)