• Experts move to address coastal erosion , flooding

Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, has set up the State Environmental Degradation Commission of Inquiry to investigate the negative impact of oil exploration in the state .
The new commission is made up of foreign experts , diplomats and forensic experts including the Archbishop of York , Dr . John Sentamu ( chairman ); former President of Ghana , John Kufuor ; former member of the British Cabinet and House of Lords , Baroness Valerie Brondesbury ; and a principal at the Fydow Forensics , Daniel Onifade .
Also on the commission are the former attorney - general and commissioner of justice ( Bayelsa ) , Wodu Kemesuode ( counsel); Head , School of Law , University of Bradford , Prof . Engine Emeseh ; professor of Public Economics , University of St . Gallen, Roland Holder ; and Dr . Kathryn Nwajiaku - Dohou .
Inaugurating the commission yesterday at the Government House, Dickson said the panel would work for nine months and submit its report , adding that its lifespan could be extended .
He also gave the commission , whose terms of reference include investigating the circumstances surrounding oil spills and their environmental and human impact , powers to conduct private hearings , both within and outside the country.
Chairman of the panel commended Dickson for setting up the commission .
Similarly, worried by the impact of erosion and flood in the country, policymakers , academics and government agencies have moved to address environmental degradation .
In a two - day roundtable on ‘ Marine and Coastal Biodiversity in Nigeria ’ organised by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF ), in collaboration with the Rivers State University (RSU ) in Port Harcourt, the experts stressed the need to implement policies that can make the oceans and coasts serve the people in a more suitable way .
The conference themed ‘ Sustainable Development in Nigeria ’ s Coastal and Marine Environments ’ was aimed at addressing the negative status of the nation’ s coastal and marine resources and to build on earlier efforts.
Also present at the complex interactions were some polluters like oil multinationals.
Director - general of NCF, Muhtari Aminu - Kano, said every mechanism would be put in place to ensure that the conference was not another talkshop , adding that a working group would be set up to monitor the recommendations to ensure their implementation to the letter .
Vice Chancellor of RSU , Blessing Didia , noted that the marine and coastal biodiversity of the Niger Delta provide food , energy , water , jobs and economic benefits for the people.
According t him , such are resources for sustainable development and crucial buffers against climate change .


https://m.guardian.ng/news/nigeria/national/bayelsa-sets-up-environmental-degradation-panel-of-inquiry/