Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
Lawyers in Rivers State under the aegis of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, converged in Port Harcourt to discuss issues bothering law practice in the country and across the globe.
The programme which was organized by the Nigeria Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, was aimed at using legal practice to solve the numerous challenges facing the country.
The chairman of Nigeria Bar Association NBA, Port Harcourt Branch SYLVESTER ADAKA said the law week will be used to update legal practitioners on the latest trend in law practice.
SYLVESTER ADAKA stated that the legal profession has taken a global dimension and said that lawyers should be aware of what is happening outside their domain.
In his address, a senior lecturer at the Rivers State University, Dr SAMUEL DIKE called for the amendment of environmental laws in the country that are not targeted at protecting the environment.
Dr SAMUEL DIKE stated this while speaking on the topic, Impact of Soot in Rivers State, lessons for jurisdiction during the Nigeria Bar Association NBA Port Harcourt Branch Law Week.
He said most environmental laws in Nigeria are just geared towards making money for the government.
Dr DIKE also called on Nigerians to form non-governmental organizations NGOs that will hold the relevant authorities to account as regards environmental matters in Nigeria.
He said that the government alone cannot protect the environment without the help of the citizens.
In his presentation, an environmentalist EUGENE ABELS says the persistent soot in Rivers State is killing rivers people slowly.
He said that Rivers people are dying gradually with cancer and other ailments due to the persistent soot.
The environmental activist stated that NBA needs to take a stand and use their noble profession to end many ills in the society including the soot in Rivers State.
He accused the federal government of not doing enough to arrest the people involved in illegal refineries who are the major contributors to the soot.
EUGENE ABELS also accused World Health Organization of playing double standards in looking into the research of experts conducted over the years to check the negative effects of soot on Rivers people.
Our Correspondent reports that the theme of the 2018 law week is Aligning legal practice for effective service delivery.
