The Bayelsa State Government on Monday urged the Federal Government to fast-track the delivery of ‘flood shelters’ promised in the wake of the 2012 flood following the warning that the state may be prone to flood this year.

Rear Admiral John Jonah (Rtd.), Deputy Governor of the state, who represented Governor Seriake Dickson, made the appeal during a ceremony at the Banquet Hall in Yenagoa to mark the 2017 World Environment Day.

Jonah noted that the state is grappling with several environmental challenges, including landslides, oil spills, marine erosion and flash flooding, which are beyond the capacity of the state to deal with.

He said that the state is pleased with the Federal Government’s plan to establish modular refineries in the Niger Delta region as it would eliminate the pollution caused by illegal refineries with adverse consequences on the environment.

Bayelsa shifted the commemoration of the 2017 World Environment Day (WED) from June 5, to June 19.

Speaking earlier, Mr Williams Alamene, Commissioner of Environment, lamented that current flooding following heavy rains experienced in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital, is traceable blocked drainages.

He said: “The flood in Yenagoa is man-made, since the rains started, our team at the Ministry of Environment has been working round the clock, there has been no rest; efforts are being intensified to open the drainages for water to flow.

“We have issues with people dumping wastes into the drainages and blocking them, some people have also built houses on the natural drainages that would have been a source of draining water out of communities.

“We are soliciting the support of members of the public to comply with town planning standards.”

Alamene regretted that indiscriminate and excessive logging of timber was going on at a spate which was not only unsustainable but also negates efforts at mitigating the effects of climate change.

Speaking on the 2017 theme of WED “Connecting people to nature in city and on land from the poles to the equator”, guest lecturer, Dr AnthonyChovwen, noted that Bayelsa is endowed with rich biodiversity which can be harnessed for tourism. He also noted that unlike oil revenue, proceeds from environmental based tourism have no adverse effect on the environment.

The expert said that humanity depends on nature and urged citizens to take deliberate steps to protect and conserve the environment.

His words: “The world’s oceans, forests and soils act as vast stores for greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Farmers and fishermen harness nature on land and under water to provide us with food.

“Scientists develop medicines using genetic materials drawn from millions of species that make up the earth’s outstanding biological diversity.

“Billions of rural people across the world spend every working day ‘connected to nature’ and appreciate their dependence on nature.”