Rivers Assembly wades into environmental degradation by black soot

By Ihesiulo Grace

26 January 2017

News

The Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday passed a resolution seeking a permanent solution to the fearful environmental degradation of the state environment by the emergence black soot seen on cars and roof tops since three months now.

Presenting a motion at plenary under Matters of Public Importance, Hon. Christian Ahiakwo, representing ONELGA 1, submitted that the black soot portended a great danger to the lives of Rivers people and to the coming generations if not tackled with every amount of seriousness.

In the motion which was entitled “Motion to investigate the compliance level of companies operating in Rivers State to Environmental Laws”, Hon. Ahiakwo said: “Mr Speaker, the society is being over-heated daily due to the issues of increasing level of environmental degradation as a result of man-made activities. Worse still, some of these companies that are responsible for this ugly situation are economic migrants from civilized nations of the world, operating on double standard basis.

“You will recall that sometime in November, 2016, there was a black soot that threatened the Rivers environment. Building roofs, cars and persons were affected in one way or the other. Preliminary investigation revealed traces of hydrocarbon which is suggestive to oil and gas origin.

“This situation portends serious danger for us who are living and our children yet unborn if appropriate actions are not taken to forestall future occurrence.”

Contributing to the debate, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Martin Amaewhule regretted that oil companies have continued to violate environmental laws in the country even when such practices were not obtained in other countries of the world.

He said that the multinationals in the state were always quick to blame it on Niger Delta militancy and that they had continued to degrade the environment without doing anything to restore it.

In his own contribution, Hon. Enemi George representing ASALGA II, commended the mover of the motion and blamed the development on security agencies who, he alleged, destroyed, bunkered, without following laid down procedures.

Speaking also was the newly elected Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Benibo Anabraba, who blamed the Ministry of Justice for not doing anything to prosecute defaulting oil multinationals in the state.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon Ikuinyi Owaji-Ibani, regretted that oil, which God endowed the region with, had turned out to be a curse to the people.

Rt. Hon. Owaji-Ibani, therefore, passed the resolution of the Assembly saying: “The House Committee on Environment should liaise with the state Ministry of Environment to investigate the level of compliance of relevant laws by companies operating in Rivers State. The House Committee on Judiciary should also interface with the Ministry of Justice to take legal steps to solve the problems of soot found in Rivers State.”