Yenagoa–The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Tuesday, declared that the state government will set up environmental guards across the state as a solution to checkmate deforestation and other environmental infractions.
Diri made the declaration during the 2021 World Environmental Day celebration in Yenagoa, a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah disclosed.
The governor said that: “Let me seize this medium to call on Bayelsans and residents to individually and collectively ensure behavioural change. Take responsibility of watching over our environment. I put you all on notice to defend our environment. Degradation of the Bayelsa environment must come to an end.
“The fight to preserve the integrity of the environment is global. But in Bayelsa, let us localise it, own it, speak it and work it.
While calling on oil companies, public servants and individuals to support the government’s policy on protecting the ecosystem, Diri also directed the ministry of environment and the state Physical Planning Board to make sure green areas are part of developmental plans in a bid to limit global warming.
The governor further directed the commissioner for environment to set up a team for the establishment of the Bayelsa Environmental Vanguard, which seeks to ensure a clean and healthy environment.
In his address, the commissioner of environmental, Hon. Iselema Gbaranbiri, charged oil companies to do more in remediating the environment and also harped on the need for a healthy environment.
