The need to urgently save the Niger Delta environment was the crux of the event to mark the 2016 World Environment Day, which is annually commemorated every June 5. At the launch of the NDDC-sponsored tree planting in Port Harcourt., the acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) , Mrs Ibim Semenitari, tasked stakeholders to take urgent steps to save the region .
A statement issued by the Commission`s Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Chijioke Amu-Nnadi in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said that the acting M.D. had hinted that the 2016 celebration was significant as it would coincide with President Muhammadu Buhari’s expected launch of the clean-up of oil spills in Ogoniland in Rivers State on Thursday.
“We all owe future generations a responsibility to preserve biodiversity of the Niger Delta by becoming agents of change, who will make positive impacts on our environment and planet.
“The theme of 2016 World Environment Day is “Illegal Trade in Wildlife” – which has eroded earth’s precious biodiversity and robbed us of our natural heritage and threatened extinction of species.
“Tackling the scourge of illegal trade in wildlife requires concerted action because illicit business of wildlife has damaged the environment, livelihoods, communities and security.
“There is need for the people to change their habits and behaviour because if we change our atitudes, demand for illegal wildlife products would fall,” she said.
She added that smuggling and killing of wildlife was hazardous to the environment as it undermined economies and ecosystems; fuelled organised crime and encouraged corruption and insecurity across country and called on vandals to have a rethink before destroying oil and gas installations, saying that spills from petroleum facilities further polluted the environment.
Semenitari said “our ecosystem is our wealth, and protection of our environment should be the collective responsibility of all who live and do business in the region.’’
Meanwhile , Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, the President of Nigeria Environmental Society, said that the group was committed to protection, development and sustenance of the environmen
