CODE Engages MDAs over Climate Change Interventions in Akwa Ibom State

By Ekemini Simon

Connected Development  (CODE), a Civil Society Organisation working on the advancement of climate Justice through engagement and collaboration has engaged Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Akwa Ibom State towards fostering interventions on climate change.

CODE engaged the ministries of Economic Development and Justice respectively last week through advocacy visits to the Commissioners and leadership of the ministries.

In its visit to the Ministry of Economic Development, the State Lead of CODE, Comrade Ubong Ekpe said the visit was necessary to understand the intervention plans of the ministry towards addressing climate change issues especially in the 2024 budget.

Ekpe noted that as the ministry which serves as the warehouse of capital budget is currently collating citizens input coupled with ministries plan for the 2024 budget, it was important to meet with the ministry to intimate them on the need to prioritize issues of climate change when making budget ceilings for 2024 budget.

CODE Lead in the State used the opportunity to call on the government of Akwa Ibom State to effectively utilize ecological funds paid monthly through the Federation Account Allocation Committee to prioritize ecological projects in areas bearing the brunt of extractive operations which he said aggravates ecological concerns of these areas. 

He called on the state government to have a regular stakeholders dialogue with community leaders including men, women , youth and also with the Civil society organisations.

The CODE Lead used the opportunity to share funding opportunities on climate change interventions with the State Government.

In his response, the Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Emem Bob thanked the organisation for their visit and interest in the development of the State. 

He pledged to continue working with the organisation and other relevant individuals and groups interested in the development of the State.

Bob assured that the recommendations of the organisation and funding opportunities will be explored for climate change Interventions in the State.

In a related development in the Ministry of Justice, the State Team Lead of CODE, Ubong Ekpe called on the government through the Ministry of Justice to review some of the environmental Laws of the state and also make new laws that will address the root cause of climate change and also make foster climate Justice in the State.

He shared concerns around poor accountability regarding the  ecological fund and poor waste management operations despite the expenditure of over N4bn annually.

He expressed optimism that if the Ministry of Justice lends its voice on the issue, it will go a long way to ameliorate the situation.

The State Team Lead equally called on the State Government through the ministry to reach out to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission on the need to effectively utilize gas flare fines for ecological interventions in oil and gas communities of the State.

He said “Section 104 (4) of the Petroleum Industry Act provides something new. It states: Money received from gas flaring penalties by the Commission under this section, shall be for the purpose of environmental remediation and relief of the host Communities of the settlors on which the penalties are levied.”

” Sadly, the observation of what is happening is that there is no transparency in the receipt and utilisation of gas flare fines received by NUPRC since the Act came into force.

“There is need for the Akwa Ibom State government to demand NUPRC to publish data on the gas flared fines it receives annually and how the funds are utilized for the environmental remediation of host communities as provided for in section 104 of the PIA”.

In reaction, the Commissioner for the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Uko Udom thanked CODE for the visit and its climate change efforts in the State.

Represented by the permanent secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Mfon Edemekong, the Commissioner assured the team that the ministry will continue to discharge its duties in accordance with its laid down mandate.

She assured that they will communicate all information and ideas shared to the Commissioner when he returns, especially the review of the Environmental and Waste Management Laws of the State.