A coalition of Civil Society Organisations, including the Network Advancement Program for Poverty and Disaster Risk Reduction and Health of Mother Earth Foundation, converged on Upenekang, an oil community in Nigeria's Akwa Ibom state, to draw attention to the environmental menace. The meeting, organised by the Ibeno Youth Advocacy Network and supported by the Africa Greengrant Fund, was held at the Upenekang Students' Library Hall.
The forum heard that oil and gas exploration by local and International Oil Companies have led to widespread destruction of farmlands, water pollution, acid rains, and other health problems. Residents, especially children, have suffered skin blights, roofing decays, early menopause, and impotency due to pollutant fumes. The situation has been described as a design, rather than an accident, highlighting the need for urgent action.
Hon. Emem Edoho, Executive Director of NAPPDRR, addressed the summit, expressing regret over the destruction of natural ecosystems by oil firms. He charged youths to rally peacefully against oil firms that pollute their environment without following regulatory frameworks. Edoho cited the Petroleum Industry Act, which enshrines best practices for oil operations.
Edoho referenced Prof. PLO Lumumba's remarks, noting that while oil discovery turned Saudi Arabia's desert into a paradise, it had the opposite effect in Nigeria's Niger Delta. He lamented that oil money had built pollution, poverty, and underdevelopment in Ibeno, rather than prosperity. The situation in Ibeno was attributed to a lack of ideas to protect the community, possibly due to selfish interests.
The forum heard that Ibeno and other oil-producing areas are being allowed to sink to ground zero in the climate justice pecking order. Development was questioned, with Edoho wondering why skyscrapers in Uyo coexist with sinking communities in Upenekang. The Atlantic coastline is eroding at an alarming rate, with 15-20 meters of shoreline lost annually.
The environmental degradation has severe consequences, including loss of ancestral homes, cemeteries, and playgrounds. The air is also on fire due to gas flaring, which has been ongoing for 60 years. The situation demands urgent attention and action from the government to address the environmental and health crises.
The Civil Society Organisations and residents are calling for the government to take responsibility for protecting their environment and ensuring climate resilience. The Petroleum Industry Act provides a framework for oil operations, but its implementation is crucial to mitigating the devastating effects of oil spills and gas flaring.
Key points
- The coalition of Civil Society Organisations is demanding urgent government action to address environmental devastation in oil communities.
- Oil and gas exploration has led to widespread destruction of farmlands, water pollution, and health problems in Ibeno and other oil-producing areas.
- The situation demands implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act to ensure best practices in oil operations and mitigate environmental degradation.
