Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has accused multinationals of being responsible for the environmental degradation in the Niger-Delta region.
Wike noted that the failure of multinationals to take proactive measures after oil pollution is responsible for most of the environmental degradation in Ogoni land and other Niger-Delta communities.
Wike who made the disclosure when he played host to the Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed at the Government House, in Port Harcourt, the state capital yesterday, also warned the Federal Government against the politicisation of the process leading to the implementation of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) report on Ogoni land.
According to Wike, the issues of environment are beyond political party affiliations since they affect everyone.
He said, “I just want to advise that the Minister and her team should be cautious while handling issues concerning the implementation of the UNEP report, especially the stakeholders meeting. Environmental issues are beyond politics.”
Wike regretted that rather than tackle environmental challenges in the region, multinationals engage in needless divide and rule tactics so as to deny the host communities of their benefits.
The Governor however pledged the state’s support towards ensuring the implementation of the UNEP report and other programmes that will address the environmental challenges in the Niger-Delta region.
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