Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has issued a fresh call for urgent and aggressive environmental regulation in the state, warning that decades of oil pollution have pushed many communities to the brink of ecological collapse.
Speaking when he received the leadership of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, Bayelsa Field Office in Government House, Yenagoa, the Deputy Governor said the environmental damage in the state is so severe that “in many communities, you can dip your hand into the river and bring it out stained with crude oil.”
Describing Bayelsa as “the unfortunate headquarters of environmental pollution in the Niger Delta,” Ewhrudjakpo said the state has endured the harshest impacts of crude oil exploration for more than 60 years, leaving residents exposed to toxic water sources, contaminated seafood and degraded ecosystems.
He said, “For over six decades, our people have suffered the worst environmental injustice. We cannot continue to live with polluted water, poisoned soil and devastated livelihoods.”
He urged NESREA to strengthen collaboration with the Bayelsa State Government, insisting that the agency must move beyond routine inspections and adopt a more forceful approach to enforcement.
“NESREA must go beyond visiting spill sites. We need stronger action. Every polluting company must be held fully accountable under Nigeria’s environmental laws.”
The Deputy Governor also raised alarm over the growing misuse of herbicides by local farmers, warning that the chemicals pose serious health risks when applied improperly.
“These herbicides do not only kill weeds. When misused, they endanger human health. We will intensify sensitization across our communities.”
He directed the NESREA field team to work closely with the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor and the Commissioner for Information to deepen awareness campaigns and reinforce enforcement efforts across the state.
Ewhrudjakpo reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to ensuring that Bayelsa’s environment is protected for future generations.
“Together, we will defend our environment and secure a healthier future for our people,” he added.
