AMAECHI URGES COMMON OPERATIONS STANDARD AMONG OIL FIRMS

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME
PORT HARCOURT -  GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has called for a common operational standard among oil companies, noting that this would help protect the environment.

The Governor made the appeal while commissioning the South-South zonal office of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, House in Port Harcourt.

Governor Amaechi, who stressed the need for the Federal Government to set standards to be met by oil companies and other stakeholders, including government, added that the lack of standards was responsible for the high level of bunkering activities in the area, which harms the environment.

According to him, 'we need enlightenment and standards to be set for oil companies to meet these standards. We need everybody, including government, to keep to those standards. It is important to begin to create standards.'  He regretted  that Nigerians hardly care for  the environment.

The Governor noted that if government paid adequate attention to the environment, bunkering activities which cause harm to the environment, especially to the aquatic life, which the Rivers people depend on, would be curtailed.

'It is important to note that our sister,  who is heading NESREA made us change our position and encouraged us to build the office complex to enable them operate effectively,' the Governor added.