Bayelsa govt’ sets up ecosystem restoration committee

The Bayelsa state government has inaugurated a five-man committee to draft a blue-print for the Bayelsa Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.

This was contained in a statement signed by chairman of the committee Dr. Hephzibah Suobo, at the weekend, saying that the state commissioner for Environment, Mr. lselema Gbaranbiri inaugurated the committee in his office at the new secretariat complex, Ovom, Yenagoa.

According to the statement, Gbaranbiri charged the committee members to bring to bear their wealth of experience and professionalism in carrying out the task, adding that they were carefully selected and the state was looking up to them.

He tasked the committee on a ten year programme outcome document on Ecosystem Restoration from 2021-2030 for Bayelsa state to align with the United Nations decade plans on Ecosystem Restoration as earlier directed by the Bayelsa state Governor, Sen. Douye Diri, adding that they should complete the task of formulating the required document on or before September 15, 2021.

Responding, the committee chairman who serves as the Regional Director, African Trade Centre, Niger Delta Region, Dr. Suobo, assured of following the United Nations guidelines as well as consult with relevant agencies to deliver on the job.

“Mrs . Omieyeman Odigie-Emannuel of the Centre for Human Rights and Climate Research would serve as Secretary of the committee, while other members are Mr. Cyprian Abasi of the Institute of Biodiversity Climate Change and Watersheds, NDU, Mr. Ere Wakedei and Mr. Festus Egba, Directors of the Department of Climate Change and Forestry respectively in the Ministry of Environment.