CIF Holds Host Community Dialogue on Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation in Akwa Ibom
By Ekemini Simon
The Clement Isong Foundation (CIF), in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria has held a community dialogue on climate change mitigation and adaptation in Akwa Ibom State.
According to the Clement Isong Foundation, the event which took place recently at the Mkpanak community hall, Ibeno was aimed at empowering young people, women, and marginalized individuals to enjoy improved and sustainable livelihoods through climate-accountable government and a green private sector.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of the Clement Isong Foundation, Mr. Elkanah Oluyori said the event was a strategic partnership agreement project II activity aimed to gather data on the implementation of the provisions of the Petroleum Industrial Act and environmental remediations in the host communities while engaging community chiefs, youth leaders, women, and young people to address the challenges faced by them.
He added ” The Clement Isong Foundation is committed to empowering community stakeholders with information, knowledge, and skills needed to understand and enjoy the benefits of the Petroleum Industrial Act. The foundation will continue to build their capacity to dialogue with both private and public institutions for host community development.”
The dialogue was moderated by Akan James with presentations from Elkanah Oluyori, Haruna Mohamed, and Caroline Gordian engaged stakeholders on the benefits and way forward of the Petroleum Industrial Act.
A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was initiated with elders and chiefs of Ibeno, youth leaders, and women’s groups to understand the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the Act.
The FGD became an opportunity for the community chiefs to share insights on a recent mapping by the state government and the adverse impact it has had on their local government area.
Young people and women also shared challenges they face in the community, including lack of clean and portable drinking water, unemployment, lack of trust for elders concerning benefit sharing, infrastructural deficits, high sea level, migration, and tremors.
Attendees discussed what should be done for the benefits of the Petroleum Industrial Act to get to the grassroots and the adverse impact the recent mapping by the state government has had on their local government area.
They also highlighted the harmful practices perpetrated by oil and gas companies, leading to the emissions of hydrocarbons and oil spillage, which impact their livelihood, aquatic life, high mortality rates, and migration.
They also decried the lack of healthcare infrastructure to attend to their medical needs and the high level of sea rise that has submerged their community.
It could be recalled that in a recently organized Citizens Watch X Space series, Ibeno Community Champions increased advocacy on the impact of industrialization, gas flaring, and lack of compliance by oil and gas companies in Ibeno.
They highlighted how the over 60 years of what they described as reckless oil exploration has affected their livelihood and source of income.
The community made recommendations, calling for a continued awareness effort, gas flaring compliance, and the establishment of green clubs in schools to address the critical challenges faced.
They stressed the need for the conversion of gas flaring into turbines and adequate utilization for energy supply, planting of trees in strategic places, and establishment of Green Clubs for public awareness.
The community expressed dismay that the previous plan to connect drinkable water to their community through an extended water pipe from Eket to Ibeno has been grossly damaged by the construction of the Eket-Ibeno road.
While recognizing the little effort that the Enactus University of Uyo team had made to provide clean water in the location of Mkpanak, they appealed to the government to declare a state of emergency in Ibeno and provide water.
The dialogue led to the creation of a community communication channel to sustain critical conversations and made adequate recommendations.
According to CIF, the team through these community champions has identified members of the community development committee and laid out strategies to engage them to ensure they fully initiate community development agreements with the oil companies. The community committee is mandated to monitor oil companies to ensure compliance with environmental standards. It has been gathered that so far, they have been providing timely reports and updates on the situation of things in the community.
Meanwhile, the Citizens Watch radio program on Inspiration FM tagged “Green Transition: Leveraging opportunities for a sustainable future” was also a call to relevant stakeholders to intervene in this community. They re-echoed the voices of the people about harmful practices that impact on the health, prosperity, and security of the people.