The Rotary Club of Port Harcourt ECO said its poised to partner with the Rivers State government to fight perennial flooding in the state.
Briggs, an Abonnema born, Public Health Physician and Environmental advocate, said “our main focus for 2024 /2025 Rotary year, is to provide the Standard Operating Procedures for Flood mitigation in Rivers State and the Niger Delta."
His words: As you see, every year, flooding has come to stay as impact of Climate change. Whenever the flood comes, it appears as though the relevant stakeholders including the Government and the communities are not prepared in tackling the impact of flooding, as we continue to see the massive loss of lives, properties and livelihood for which a lot of people seem not to recover."
"So, since we know that this thing is going to be with us all the time, why not look for a way to adapt, to reduce the impact of loss of lives and livelihood."
Continuing, Briggs added “we want to do a multi- stakeholders conference where we bring all stakeholders together to brainstorm and come out with a workable policy that can be adopted by Rivers state government so that it can be used to mitigate the impact of flooding in the State and the Niger Delta."
Briggs, who said he was overwhelmed by the opportunity given to him, to serve as the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Eco in such a short time he joined Rotary noted that" yes while I bask in the euphoria of being installed as the 4th President of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Eco, the challenges will come " But he was quick to posit that with the cooperation of members, those challenges would be surmounted.
On his charge to the Rivers state government, the President stated "Environmental issues are manmade and must also be solved by man" Adding that the world is having environmental crisis due to fossil fuel exploration and exploitation which according to him, have resulted in massive increase in greenhouse gases which are changing the weather patterns.
He regretted that Government has failed to formulate workable policies to tackle environmental challenges insisting that Nigerian Government has policies on paper but lacked the political will to implement them. "We are asking the government at all levels to put up right policies. In Nigeria there are policies on paper but the implementation is lacking"
"I call on the Federal Government, State and Local Governments to come together to come up with a workable policies to ensure environmental sustainability" he said.
Briggs who maintained that he would continue with the programmes initiated by his predecessors, especially the tree planting campaign, noted that tree planting is essential as such would help mop up greenhouse gases and ensure a cleaner environment.
On his part, the immediate past President, Rtn Dr Anthony Ikpor said he was optimistic that Dr Briggs would perform taking into cognizance the already established workable system for him to galvanize.
He reiterated the need for him to avail himself of the experiences of the past Presidents and work with them and every member of the club to succeed.
He noted that for the past Rotary year with him on the saddle, the club has stabilized even as he advised him to continue with the tree planting campaign and also partner with Rivers State Government and other relevant agencies for effective leadership.
To the President - Elect, Rtn Iniruo Wills, the occasion was significant as a vibrant young man in the person of Dr Briggs has been installed as the President of Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Eco. He went further to say Dr Briggs has been an environmental advocate for a decade, who has been active and at the forefront of promoting the stop the soot campaign in Rivers State, adding that with his wealth of experience in environmental issues, he would take Rotary club of Port Harcourt Eco to a greater height.
On the assessment of the immediate past President, Rtn Dr Anthony Ikpor, Rtn. Wills noted that Dr Anthony Ikpor has set a high standard through his programmes and environmental campaign advocacy but urged members to rally round the incumbent President to step into the shoes of Dr Ikpor and to surpass it.
However, he enjoined the Rivers State Government to take a centre stage latter this year in Azerbaijan where the world would gather to discuss the climate change and other environmental issues. Wondering why, the Niger Delta, Rivers state and Port Harcourt would not be at the centre stage and make a difference even as he insisted that "Environmental issues are at the front burner globally and citizens should partake in discussing the issues instead of complaining"
Other events featured at the ceremony include, Lecture on the "Niger Delta Environmental Catastrophe, the Oblique Divest of oil Assets By the IOCs, the Moral And Legal Burden presented by the guest Speaker, Dr Gaidom Ferdinand. D of Department of Geology University and guest speaker.
Other activities include inauguration of the Club's Board of Trustees, Induction of New members, Award of Excellence to deserving members such as the Charter President of the Club, Rtn Dr. Emem Okon, the Past President, Rtn Davis Okarevu, President - Elect, Rtn Iniruo Wills, Chairperson, 4th lnstallation committe and President - nominee, Rtn Sele May Aso among others.
High point of the occasion was the cutting of cake. Present at the occasion, include The TC Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Hon. Chief Bitebobo Nelson Amieye, representatives of Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Past Assistant Governors of Rotary Clubs, Past presidents of Rotary Clubs and representatives of other sister Rotary Clubs in Port Harcourt and the general public.
*Bon Peters, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
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