Delta State Government has called on every community in the state to partner with her MORE agenda of environmental sustainability by promoting peace and harmonious co-existence among the companies doing business in its domain.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tommy Ejiro Jamani made the call when he led a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) with the ministry’s stakeholders to inspect the source of Odo and Ojokpa rivers in Ukwu-Nzu community, allegedly polluted by Mosra Energy Limited over its coal mining activities in neighboring Ugboba Community.
It would be recalled that the Ukwu-Nzu community in Aniocha North Local Government Area had written a petition to the state ministry of environment indicting Mosra Energy Limited of polluting their only source of water through its mining activities in the neighboring Ugboba community.
The Commissioner, in company of the State Project Coordinator of Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP/EIB), Mr. Benedict Nwaokocha, said he also read an online publication where Mosra Energy Limited claimed it was the activities of NEWMAP erosion stormwater control drainage, years back, could be responsible for the coloration of the water pollution of the river.
Jamani said the Joint Investigation Visit, ably led by him (commissioner) and having staff of the Delta State Environmental Protection Agency (DELSEPA), in attendance, had taken samples of the polluted water for laboratory analysis in order to ascertain its cause.
While saying the assessment visit was to allay fears and counter claims by the mining firm and the host communities, the Commissioner commended the Ukwu-Nzu community for employing a proper communication grievance redress mechanism that could further sustain a safer and healthier environment in the state.
The Commissioner who had a stopover at the Palace of the Obi of Ugboba kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Ezeibu 111, during the inspection visit to the site of the mining firm located in the Ugboba community, commended the peaceful disposition of Ukwu-Nzu, Ugboba, Obomkpa and Ogbodu communities hosting the mining firm.
The Commissioner assured the people that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration was irrevocably committed to his MORE agenda aimed at enhancing the infrastructural and socioeconomic development of the host communities.
In appreciation of the plethora of link roads connecting various communities in the area, Obi Emmanuel Ezeibu 111, commended the past administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the various projects initiated and completed in the area, saying he was not surprised that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was using his MORE agenda to consolidate the achievements of the past administration in the aforementioned communities.
