Why we embarked on study tour – Cmdr G.E. Okoh, NDC leader

By: Tonebsky Nesta

The team leader, Course 19 of National Defence College, NDC, Commodore Gabriel Okoh says they decided to visit Warri South Council secretariat as part of their tour of selected states and local councils to ascertain how authorities of the local government are tackling environmental degradation.

Commodore Gabriel Okoh gave this explanation Wednesday October 20 when he led other 13 members of Course 19 of the NDC to the Warri South Council secretariat. According to him, a total of 9 states were selected this year for the study tour with the theme “environmental protection and physical challenges of Delta State”.

The Chairman of Warri South local government, Hon. Mofe Edema stated that the council authority is doing everything within its limit to protect its environment. The Warri South Council boss whose message was delivered by Secretary to the local government, Dr. Austin Uroye, identified flood as the major environmental challenge the council is facing in the area and appealed to all relevant agencies to assist the council in tackling it headlong. He disclosed that the council authorities have discussed with companies operating in the area on the challenge of environmental degradation, just as he noted that the Council has done its bit by planting flowers within its premises and ensuring that all blocked drain as well as refuse are evacuated, especially on environmental sanitation days.

The Warri South Head of Works department, Engr. Jonathan Anamali who corroborated the statements of Secretary to the local government, Dr. Austin Uroye, averred that global warming has further increased the challenge of flood in the area and identified fund as a major constrained in the council’s resolve to tackle environmental degradation.

The Vice Chairman of Warri South local government, Hon. Charlie Etsaghara, Secretary to Warri South local government, Dr. Austin Uroye and some Supervisors in the council later conducted members of the course 19 team to some projects executed by the Hon. Mofe Edema administration within the council two secretariats before members of the team left to inspect the Trans Warri Ode-Itsekiri bridges and access roads enroute to the Olu of Warri’s Palace for a courtesy visit.