The Rivers State Commissioner for Environment, Hon.Tambari Sydney Gbara has expressed his Ministry’s readiness to tackle the issue of impending flooding predicted by the Federal Meteorological Agency.
Sydney Gbara, in an exclusive chat with this Publication in Port Harcourt, said the Ministry has been on top of the matter before the announcement of the impending flooding, having embarked on canalization, and desilting of relevant waterways, channels and major drainages in various flood-prone areas across the State, including the long-winding Ntawoba Creek in Port Harcourt, as proactive measures to combat imminent flooding and related disasters in the State.
“As a Ministry, we made significant preparatory strides setting up facilities and modalities, as well as orientating and mobilizing our personnel, resource persons, stakeholders, resources, materials and equipment in readiness for urgent interventions and emergency operations, especially in lieu flooding incidents in any location in Rivers State. You can also see that the Ntawoba Channel and other canals, creeks and drainages across the State have been undergoing regular desilting and clearing,” he said.
The Commisaioner, and former State Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), equally maintained that one of the headache of the ministry is the indiscriminate dump of waste in to the canals by some market women,but said the ministry has factored away in which the trend could be reversed through proper orientation that will bother on good healthy habits.
He maintained that in a bid to tackle erosion and flooding head on, a Committee was setup by the Governor headed by the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ngozi Odu,in and advanced preparations having made to relocate, manage and supply relief materials to affected populations and communities.
Mr.Gbara further hinted that as part of the Ministry’s preparedness, they have forge strong synergy with various relevant stakeholders, community groups, agencies and companies, including Civil Society Organisations and NGOs to ensure any incident of flooding is tackle head-on.
Answering questions on the allegation of a cold war between him and the SA to the Governor on Sanitation, the Environment Commissioner clarified: “there is no cold war. The SA on Sanitation is my friend and we are working together”.
The Commissioner also maintained that his ministry is in collaboration with the federal government as step in venturing into blue Economy as critical stakeholders? ” we are a critical stakeholder and the ministry is also heavily involved.” He said.