Bayelsa State Governor, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, has expressed dismay over what he described as the insensitivity of the multinational oil companies to the plight of their host communities in the Niger Delta region.

He spoke on Friday at PTI Conference Center Effurun, Delta State, when he received the prestigious Green Wheel award by the Rotary International District 9141 in recognition of his contribution to the environmental challenges as it affects the people of the region.

The award was done by the District Governor Rotary International District 9141, Adeyemi Oladokun.

Governor Dickson, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Ebipadei Apaingolo, condemned the multinational oil firms “for brazenly destroying the Niger Delta environment without adherence to international best practices in their activities”.

Dickson commended Rotary International for deeming it fit to recognise the activities of his administration “with a highly prestigious award especially on issues” relating to the environment as it affects the people of the state. He called on International Oil Companies and the Federal Government to operate in accordance with best practices.

The Governor reiterated his commitment towards fighting environmental degradation. He noted that the launch of the ‘Rise for Bayelsa’ campaign was an initiative aimed at attracting global attention to the ravaging effects of oil spills, pollution and environmental degradation in the state.

According to him, the commission was inaugurated “to investigate the environmental, health, socio-economic, cultural and human damage caused by operations of both local and multi-national oil companies.”

It is equally mandated to “analyse the legislations governing the operations of multi-national oil companies in Bayelsa State, and in Nigeria, as well as establish a set of recommendations that would lead to the development of a new legal framework that ensures accountability.”

Dickson, therefore, sought the partnership of Rotary International and other groups, locally and internationally, in his quest to address the environmental challenges confronting the people of Niger Delta region.

Earlier in his address, the District Governor of Rotary International District 9141, Mr. Adeyemi Oladokun, noted that the activities of the Dickson-led administration, especially the recently held programme, ‘Rise for Bayelsa’ with the theme, ‘The Environment, Our present, Our Future’, and the visits to impacted communities by the commission attracted the attention of the international NGO.

‘Rise for Bayelsa’ saw the inauguration of an eight-member international Bayelsa Oil and Environmental Commission headed by the Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu.

According to the Rotary District Governor, “It was based on these developments that the organisation decided to honour the government with the prestigious award.”

The Bayelsa State Government delegation which was led by the Commissioner of Environment Hon Ebipadei Apiangolo included the Head Media and Events and Project Officer Rise for Bayelsa Campaign, Ono K. Akpe, Special Adviser to the Governor, VIP Protocol, Hon. David Nanakumo, and Permanent Secretary Special Duties, Mightyman Aye Dikurog.

•Photo shows Governor Diclkson’s representative, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Ebipadei Apaingolo, receiving the Green Wheel award from the District Governor of Rotary International District 9141, Mr. Adeyemi Oladokun, on Friday at PTI Conference Center Effurun, Delta State.

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