THE HONOURABLE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, CHIEF GODSPOWER OMAFUVWE ASUIWHU (JP)-GIVING THE ENVIRONMENT A NEW LOOK

In bid to achieve the goals of the Ministry in this dispensation, the Honourable Ministry of Environment Chief Godspower Omafuvwe Asuiwhu (JP) has embarked on countless exercises, ranging from inspection of completed NEWMAP Projects, monitoring and evaluation of the cleanliness in the state, visitation of all the Ministry’s agencies and the Ministry Annex office in Warri, first of it kind according to the annex staff, inauguration of the West Africa Coastal Area (WACA) Technical Management Committee, inspections of Integrated waste facilities, cycling hubs and government approved dump site, embarking on vegetation control, fumigation of government quarters and public places, sensitization on disaster management, monitoring of sanitation exercise, mechanical desiltation of natural water ways and canals, construction of culverts and desiltation of drains in Ethiope West Local Government Area, visits to markets and the state forest reserves across the State and working tirelessly to make sure all the communities affected by the ongoing flood are taken care of in all the government approved IDP Camps.

He has held series of meeting with Tank Farmers, TAUNGYA Head Farmers, management of Oil and Gas companies operating in Delta State for collaboration and adhering to Environmental principles, this led to his constituting Delta State Pollution Prevention and Control Committee in the Ministry, which have been inaugurated for full blow of action.

To proof his sarcasity towards ensuring that the stronger Delta mantra of the state governor was not down played, he took to the street on motor cycle to fish out perpetrators of indiscriminate refuse dumping, an act which have never been recorded since the creation of the state, he stoop so low in the discharge of their duties, when questioned on the motive behind his act, the Commissioner said he would not tolerate anyone tarnishing his work and that of the state governor, adding that the fight towards cleanliness was everyone’s responsibility which must be taken seriously.

Days after, the pragmatic Commissioner went round to ensure that the waste which were brought out from drainage were parked by Private Sector Participant (PSP) who were responsible for the evacuating of refuse to government approved dump site and to achieve satisfaction in his duty, Chief Asiuhwu paid a visit to the dumpsite all of these exercise he executed with the presence of the Press to ensure that the waste gets to the correct dumpsite.

In continuation of his exercise in ensuring that the state was free from dirts, visited the Solid Chemical Recycling Company, where waste plastics were turned into source of wealth and unemployed youths were given a place for empowerment and financial freedom.

While trying to maintain the water ways, Asiuwhu called on benefiting communities of NEWMAP projects to protect the facilities in their domain by ensuring the drains were not turned into debris dumping sites, this advice he gave when embarked on another visits to the three sites of the completed NEWMAP projects at Obomkpa and Ukunzu both in Aniocha North and Owanta in Ika North East Local Government Areas of the state.

The projects, which he said has reduced the vulnerability to erosion disaster in the affected communities was made possible through the efforts of state government and World Bank, hence the need for the communities to protect the facilities for their own good.

The drive for environmental sustainability in the state was also taken to one of the biggest oil firm in the state, less than two months in office by the Commissioner when he visited Chevron Nigeria limited in Warri, in the company of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr (Mrs) Mininim Oseji and some staff where his Ministry sort for synergy with the oil Company and it was realised that the company was environmental friendly.

In contribution to the development of the state, the Commissioner charged the company to continue to pay more attention to the environment; suggested that Chevron help save nature by planting one million trees in the state and that the Lekki Conservation Centre be replicated in Delta State to boost tourism.

The Commissioner in his few days in office also played host to Patani Local Government Area Indigenes Public Service Forum (PLIPSEF) when they visited him to commend his good work in a short time of assumption to office. The President of the Forum, Mr.

Fynecountry Goodluck Tamaraebi, during the visit to the commissioner, said he had proven to be a true son and indigene of the Local government.

In its proactiveness to ensure the safety of Deltans and victims of the 2022 flood, Commissioner for Environment, Chief Godspower Asiuwhu had in the company of some staff of his Ministry, visited and inspected the IDP Camps at Ahabam Primary School Asaba Technical College Kwale and Alaka Grammar School, Ozoro, Delta State, where he told Journalists that it was measure put in place to relocate flood victims to safe grounds in the state, Delta State Government has created internally displaced persons (IDPs) Camps in the state.

According to him, the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) and the Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had been consistent in their annual flood forecast and “this year predictions is not an exception.

” He also disclosed that the state government was setting up more IDP camps in some areas that were prone to flooding before the areas would be possibly flooded.

The Commissioner also advised those living in a low land to move to higher land and those affected by flood to relocate to the nearest IDP camps in their locations, that the camps where open with government officials to receive them.

In an effort to eradicate rodents, reptiles and to forestall outbreak of epidemic at the Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) Camps, the Commissioner had ensured that the state Ministry of Environment embarked on fumigation exercise, in all the IDP Camps in the state.

The Commissioner for Environment, Chief Godspower Asiuwhu who spoke to newsmen during the fumigation exercise at Ogbe-Afor Primary school, Asaba, and the state capital stated that the exercise became expedient in the face of the rising flood. He added that the exercise was to ensure protection of lives and properties, keep the IDP environment clean to avoid unwanted diseases and that the IDPs surroundings were devoid of vectors and venoms.

Prior to the emerge of flood the Commissioner in the company of the management staff of the Ministry had during a town hall meeting with Camp 74 Fish Farmers, Dennis Osadebay Cluster Fish Farmers and Akapko Fish farmers in Asaba, sensitized them on flood it’s prevention and management, where he urged them to clear the blocked drainages so as to allow for the smooth flow of water and protect their fishes from the effect of flood and also relocate to safe grounds in the event of the flood becoming devastating.

These good deed of the environment Commissioner, led to many awards in his short time in office one of which were the Awards from FALCORP Mangrow Park at Ijala Ekenrhen, Warri, NTA Asaba and many others. The goal getter commissioner is still working.

#Credit# By Anita Uche Chukwuma – Ugbejie