Delta State government is to punish officers in the state Civil Service who approve building plans in unauthorized places in the state.
The state governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan who announced this at the 2nd edition of state climate change dialogue in Asaba regretted that people have built structures on natural water ways and promised to weed out all those who approved the building plans that facilitated the construction of such buildings.
His words “There are illegal structures blocking the natural water ways thereby causing flooding. People approved plans for such structures and we are going to weed out all those who approved plans for people to build in those places”
Dr. Uduaghan who said civil servants involved in such deals would be punished to serve a deterrent to others directed those involved in the approval of building plans to be meticulous the and diligent in their duties.
“We are going to mete out the same level of punishment which owner of illegal structures are given to the civil servants who approve the building plans”.
He however called for joint effort in combating the effect of climate change explaining that the issue of flooding and other biting effects of climate change is not restricted to only one state.
Explaining further, Dr. Uduaghan said “The issue of flooding has no boundary and what happened states such as Beyalsa, Anambra, Edo and even Rivers will have effect in our state”.
The governor disclosed that he has started a major drainage construction work in the state and when completed would check erosion and flooding problems in the state.
Dr. Uduaghan who cautioned against the politicization of the removal of illegal structures described the climate change dialogue as a wakeup call for action.
He reminded all stakeholders that climate change has affected the image of governors in some states of the federation and enjoined them to strategize.
The Deputy Country Director of UNDP Thamos Armstring in his remarks called on various governments in the country to lay solid foundation for eliminating the effect of environmental change.
Mr. Thamos promised that UNDP will partner with the federal government to check climate change.
He said no state especially in the coastal areas of the country could go it alone and enjoined them to work together to achieve enduring solution.
The Deputy Country Director explained that UNDP participated in organizing the dialogue because of its desire in checkmating climate change.
An environmentalist Dr. Newton Jibuno warned about the consequences of climate change and the danger it poses to costal states in the Federation.
Dr. Jibuno said if neglected it would affect the supply of food potable water and social life especially recreation.
