Bayelsa Plans Technical Study, Environmental Protection for Koluama, Others

The Bayelsa State Government is to undertake technical studies of the entire coastline of the state and seek ways of collaborating with national and international stakeholders towards providing protection for Koluama in Southern Ijaw local government area and other communities impacted by environmental problems.

The resolution was taken at the 41st session of the State Executive Council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.

Briefing newsmen, shortly after the meeting, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Iniruo wills said, based on the report of the technical study, government would collaborate with national and international stakeholders to tackle the environmental problem.

According to Mr. Wills, council expressed concern over the ocean surge that is ravaging Koluama and resolved to visit the community to accelerategovernment’s plan for the protection of coastal communities.

He also stated that, relevant government agencies would visit Koluama and other communities that are affected by erosion, noting that the koluamasituation is a typical example of the environmental degradation confronting the people of the state.

His words: “We will visit Koluama and we will undertake technical studies of the entire coastline of Bayelsa and not to wait for another such incident to happen. We will undertake those studies and then based on the report, we will engage relevant national and international stakeholders to see how we can combat this menace.”

“The most urgent matter that the Executive Council discussed today has to do with the ocean surge that hit koluama a few days ago. The council expressed its concern and agreed to fast track its plan for the protection of coastal communities.

“In this bid, relevant agencies of government will visit not just Koluama, but other communities that are affected by erosion, because the koluamasituation illustrates what our people and our communities have always been crying out about and other environmental degradation.”

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government Administration, Chief Mitema Obordor remarked that, council introduced a policy directing all local government council chairmen to henceforth, reside in their council headquarters to complement state government’s development efforts at the grassroots.

“We are reminded of the purpose of the creation of local governments to bring development to the grassroots. These functions cannot be effectively discharged if the chairmen are not in their respective local government areas. And so it was resolved in council today and hereby issued as government policy that all chairmen of councils must henceforth be residentin their local government headquarters. This the government will implement with effect from today.”

Briefing newsmen, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Kemasuode Wodu announced that, an anti corruption committee will be inaugurated soon and the ceremony will be witnessed by key officials of the Federal Government led by its Attorney General as well as the chairmen of agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to assist in the area of training.

In their separate remarks, the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr.Furoebi Akene and his counterpart in the Trade, Industry and Investment Ministry, Dr. Kemela Okara, said the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and other judicial officers looked into the Land Use Act with a view to making issuance of C of O easier for prospective applicants in non-urban areas.

Responding to a question, Mr. Akene explained that, it would take 2 months for a C of O to be approved, as it is electronically produced.

Dr. Okara also expressed government’s intention to invest in the mortgage financing sector, stressing that, the present administration’s drive was to boost housing in the state to enable Bayelsans own houses, adding that the state investment and economic forum would take place from the 16th to 18thof July for investors to explore investment opportunities in the areas of power, agriculture, oil and gas, hospitality and tourism.