Abuja — Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey, has asked oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to comply with existing regulatory laws and to ensure that they tailor their operations to conform with the Ministry's policy on environment.

Odey made the charge while inaugurating a technical inter-ministerial committee for the implementation of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement in the environment sector.

The committee is to supervise the implementation of the agreement on the construction of integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) for the oil and gas and other industries in the Niger Delta.

The Minister said the problem of waste was a major environmental issue in the country, adding that the ministry recently commissioned feasibility studies in 15 cities for the construction of Integrated waste management facilities.

According to him, the implementation of the waste management facility program was at various stages of completion in selected cities in line with the PPP principle of the federal government.

Odey expressed satisfaction with the increasing number of private organisations that have accepted to collaborate with the federal government.

He said the waste management initiative was part of the strategiesbeing adopted for adaptation and mitigation against the impacts of Climate Change.

"The way we handle wastes in the country would surely go along way in curbing emission of green house gases that are culprits of global warming and Climate Change", he said.

He said the establishment of the technical committee was aimed at fast-tracking the provision of environmental remediation services.

Members of the committee include representations from the River State government, Niger-Delta Ministry, NNPC, DPR and other line agencies in the environment sector as well as the Titan project Ltd.