The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Joint State Committee on Tree Planting as part of efforts to promote environmental sustainability, urban beautification and climate resilience across the state.
The committee was inaugurated on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Sir Amaopusenibo Amairigha Edward Hart, at the ministry’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
The committee comprises academics drawn from the Centre for Climate Change and Development Studies, Rivers State University, alongside officials of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
Speaking at the inauguration, Hart expressed satisfaction with the calibre of individuals who accepted to serve on the committee, commending them for supporting the vision and programmes of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration.
He, however, stressed that the success of the assignment would depend not merely on members’ acceptance of the responsibility but on their commitment, performance and ability to deliver measurable results.
The commissioner charged the committee to facilitate and coordinate a collaborative tree-planting initiative while promoting a culture of environmental responsibility and sustainability across Rivers State.
He urged members to approach the assignment with dedication and ensure that their activities produced visible and lasting benefits for the state.
In his acceptance speech, the committee chairman, Professor Sodienye Abere, pledged that members would discharge their responsibilities diligently and justify the confidence reposed in them by the state government.
He assured the commissioner that the committee would work collectively to achieve visible and sustainable results in advancing environmental protection across Rivers State.
The committee is chaired by Professor Sodienye Abere, while its members include Professors Patrick Chinemerem, Hilkiah Igoni, S. Ngah and K.O. Okpara.
Other members are Dr W.S. Simbi-Willington, Dr V. Ojadi, Dr Juliet U. Ekennia, Dr G. Ogboeli and Dr Mrs Sandra Obomanu.
The Ministry is also represented by its Permanent Secretary, TPL Mrs Soibitein Duke-Harry, TPL Stella Enyadike, Mrs Iyalla O.N. Ereforokuma and Mrs Daminabo Samuel, while TPL Ikpe Leyira Felicia serves as the committee secretary.
The inauguration comes against the backdrop of the Rivers State Government’s broader plan to integrate tree planting into physical planning and urban development.
Earlier, the Commissioner disclosed plans to make tree planting compulsory in new building plans submitted for approval from December 2026, with each proposed development required to incorporate at least one tree, which could be economic, ornamental or flowering.
The proposed initiative is expected to extend beyond Port Harcourt to other urban centres and communities across the state’s 23
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