The Bonny Environment Consultants Committee (BECC) has hailed the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Grand Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Dr. Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, JP, Perekule XI, as the ‘Pillar of the Environment’, a sobriquet which acknowledges his strident and visible efforts at protecting the environment.

BECC described the 25 years of the King’s reign as “a bustling era of environmental protection and guardianship by our dearly beloved Monarch”.  

Acting Chairman of BECC, Professor Ibitoru Hart, who stated this in a telephone interview with Kristina Reports in Bonny, Rivers State on Thursday, December 16, 2021, pointed out that the King’s efforts at environmental friendliness has been consolidated and legendary.

She noted that it was in pursuit of this objective of ensuring the environment, especially in Bonny Kingdom is protected that he established the Bonny Environment Consultants Committee (BECC) to provide overwatch of the environment, especially with the escalating presence of energy related activities in the area consequent upon the influx of oil and gas multinationals.

She further asserted that in pursuit of the actualization of this royal vision, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, in concert with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), chased and achieved the Bonny Island Malaria Elimination Project (BNYMEP), which “seeks to reduce the malaria burden, move the community to pre-elimination status, bring malaria-related mortality to zero, and make Bonny Island Nigeria’s first malaria-free zone”.  

The revered environmental expert further pointed to the nomination of Finima Nature Park by the Federal Government through the Minister of State for the Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, to become a Ramsar Site of International importance on February 3, 2020, as key indicator of the King’s insistence on environmental friendliness by companies doing business in his domain.

Finima Nature Park, a natural park on Bonny Island covering an area of approximately 1,000 hectares, was established in 1999 by the Nigeria LNG with the aim of conserving nature and biodiversity in the region. When approved, the Park would become the 12th Ramsar Site in Nigeria and 3rd in the Niger Delta.

It had already in 2019 earned the designation of an internationally acclaimed centre for wetland education and a member of Wetlands Link International. This made it one of the 350 Wetland Centres globally and the second in Nigeria.

“Also recall that it was Bonny Kingdom that first raised the alarm when the dead fish incident happened last year, leading to a convergence of efforts by relevant stakeholders both within and outside Nigeria to pursue the protection of the aquatic environment by the regulatory authorities.”  

“Our dear King has not failed in drumming it into the ears of companies coming to do business in his domain to mainstreaming the protection of the environment and there are clear indicators of this around Bonny Kingdom.”

“Even our committee has received the necessary fillip to operate because he has demonstrated doggedness in that direction. We are pleased to have him as our father, mentor, inspiration and leader; we join the whole world to congratulate him on the 25^th anniversary of his coronation and pray for more years of glorious exuberance and effervescence.”

Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State, Nigeria is currently alive with myriad activities in celebration of the silver jubilee anniversary of the ascendance of His Majesty, King Dr. Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, JP, Perekule XI, Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Grand Bonny Kingdom.

The globally revered King, popularly known as the Black Monarch, was a one-time Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, and Pro-Chancellor of several first grade universities across Nigeria.