Halt the expansion of fossil fuel extraction in the Niger Delta – Stakeholders, CSOs Tell Federal Government

 

By Ekemini Simon

Opinion leaders, policy experts and makers, academics, community people, women organizations, public health professionals, civil society organisations, traditional rulers among other stakeholders in the Niger Delta have called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to stop the expansion of fossil fuel extraction in the region.

The stakeholders insist that the impact of climate change on the physical environment and livelihoods with respect to the citizens’ health condition has increased poverty and unemployment, as well as displaced the people of the region.

To mitigate this, the stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to carry out comprehensive clean up and restoration of  the region which they describe as being heavily degraded.

The stakeholders made their position known in a communique signed by Lekeh Development Foundation,We the people, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Friends of the Earth Nigeria/Environmental Rights Action, KebetKache Women Development and Resources Centre, Oilwatch Africa and 11 other civil society organisations.

The communique issued at the end of the three days Niger Delta Climate Change conference facilitated and organised by Lekeh Development Foundation with the theme ” Niger Delta and Climate Change: Imperative for Action”, was held at Port Harcourt from 10-12 July 2023.

The stakeholders demanded an end to what they described as continued illegal and unconstitutional routine gas flaring in the region. 

They called on the government to implement strategies to help communities adapt to climate change noting that this includes promoting sustainable agriculture practices, enhancing coastal protection measures, and improving flood management systems to reduce the vulnerability of communities to extreme weather events.

The stakeholders called on the government to encourage reforestation initiatives and protect existing forests as forests play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide and regulating temperature, thus mitigating climate change impacts. 

Part of the recommendations in the communique reads ” Promote and implement recommendations of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission Report and the demands contained in the Niger Delta Alternative Convergence Manifesto.

 “Promote the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. Strengthen monitoring mechanisms and invest in early warning systems for extreme weather events like storms and floods. This will enable timely response and evacuation, reducing the risks to human lives and infrastructure.

“Capacity-building programs, including by learning from indigenous knowledge, should be implemented to enhance knowledge, skills, and resources for climate change adaptation and mitigation.”