The State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, has been commended for the various development projects so far initiated by his administration since he assumed duties as the executive Governor of the State.
The commendation was made by the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr. (Mrs.) Ngen Benebo when she paid a courtesy call on the Head of Service, Ntunkae (Mrs.) Mary-Theresa Ikwen, mni in her office in Calabar.
The projects so dear to the heart of the Director-General/CEO of the National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA), according to her, span through a wide range of people-oriented development programme such as the construction of numerous health care facilities, new primary health care centres including the upgrading of over a hundred existing ones.
Other areas of interest she noted include; massive renovation of schools and award of scholarships and creation of enabling environment resulting in a robust increase in new investments which she noted has further enhanced business activities and other infrastructural development in the State.
She also praised the level of aesthetic and facelift of the state capital which she noted is another testimony of the commitment of the Imoke led administration to the protection of human health and environment.
Dr. (Mrs.) Benebo disclosed that NESREA, an agent of the Federal Ministry of Environment is charged with the responsibility of enforcing all environmental laws, guidelines, policies standards and regulations in Nigeria and ensuring compliance with the provisions of international agreements conventions, protocols and treaties on environment to which Nigeria is a signatory and to prohibit the use of technologies and processes that undermine environment quality.
The vision of the Agency she explained, is to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for all Nigerians and her mission is to inspire personal and collective responsibility towards building an environmentally conscious society for the achievement of sustainable development in Nigeria.
The NESREA boss recalled that while requesting for the establishment of the agency's presence in the State, appreciated Government for providing office space for the agency but however called for it furnishing, provision of staff bus, 4WD double carbin van, 30KVA Generator for effective operation of the State office, adding that with the take-off of NESREA office in the State, Cross River is now the second State to have NESREA presence in South-South geo-political zone of the country.
She appealed to the State Government for the approval of other logistics contained in her earlier request for the take-off of the Agency adding however that on receiving approval from Government for the take-off of NESREA in the State, the Agency quickly provided skeletal furnishing to make its office operational observing that it is grossly inadequate to contain the staff that were immediately posted on operation.
She disclosed that Cross River is the first State where more than 42% of senior staff are indigenes which she said is far more than the 25% quota usually allocated to any State.
This development she noted, is in keeping faith with the Agency's commitment to support the state in the promotion of environmental governance through the creation of the critical manpower that is required.
Responding, the Head of Service, Mrs. Mary Theresa Ikwen mni expressed gratitude for the visit which she noted will enhance the needed collaboration between the two strategic offices.
Cross River State according to the Head of Service, is environmentally conscious, pointing out that the aesthetic and face lift of the State is seen as an achievement, to her, the State is traditionally conscious of its cleanliness at all times.
Refuse bins, she said have been provided at strategic locations within the Metropolis pointing out that standard have not gone down and assured NESREA of Government determination to maintain the level of cleanliness the State has attained.
Ntunkae (Mrs.) Ikwen advised the Agency to work closely with the Ministry of Environment and other related MDAs adding that the bulk of industrial pollution is feasible at the export processing zone (EPZ) where industries are springing up.
She commended the Agency for providing employment to Cross Riverians and assured of contributing her quota towards the smooth take-off of the Agency in the State.
Highlight of the visit was the presentation of souvenir to the Head of Service as well as her decoration with the NESREA authority symbol to remind her of the need to keep the environment clean at all times.
Development projects is something that is very much splufic. With time things will definately improve even more than this