Environment

How Rainstorm Wreaked Havoc In Port Harcourt

Published

8 years ago

May 21, 2018

Some residents and
corporate bodies in Port Harcourt City and environs are still counting their losses occasioned by devastation caused by severe rainstorm two weeks ago.
As at the time of filing this report, over fifty houses, billboards, vehicles and a number of poles belonging to the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) were severely damaged by the storm.
Some of the corporate citizens who were counting their losses include, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), the Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, City Crown Hotel, Iwofe road, Port Harcourt and a number of others whose billboards were affected in one way or the other in the incident.
Some residential buildings were deroofed particularly those at Rumuola, Iwofe, Igbo Etche, Rumuokoro, Rumuokwuta, Emohua and other areas.
A number of trees were also felled by the storm, while at Rumuola junction, a giant billboard allegedly owned by one of the corporate bodies in Port Harcourt was uprooted and placed on top of a storey building. Similarly, a number of electricity poles belonging to the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) were damaged in several locations across Port Harcourt City and its environs.
Six electricity poles were damaged at Igbo Etche throwing the area into darkness, some were damaged at GRA phases I and II, Borikiri as well as Rumuok-wurusi axis of Port Harcourt.
The PHEDC has put the number of poles damaged so far to over 300, while a number of transformers also suffered similar fate. In a statement made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt, the Manager, Corporate Communication, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), Mr. John Onyi, said that two 33kvs and five 11kvs feeders, especially those in the Rivers State University, (RSU) Rumuomoi, Federal Housing Estate, Wokoma Street, Bori Camp and Rumuola were all affected.
Onyi regretted the incident stressing that the firm sympathised with consumers over the incident. The Rector, Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, Dr Samuel Kalagbor told newsmen that the incident affected over seven buildings in the institution.
Kalagbor said that the destruction occurred when students were in the class writing their semester examination, stressing that the school had to call of the examination as most of the classrooms were affected.
The Rector called for urgent intervention from the government as the level of destruction is beyond what the school can handle alone.
The Commssioner for Special Duties, Emeka Onowu who visited the institution to inspect the level of damage, regretted the incident, stressing that the state government is happy that no life was lost.
Onowu, however cautioned residents against trying to remove property under heavy windstorm.
Though the manage of City Crown Hotel, Iwofe road, could not be reached for comment, a senior staff who spoke under condition of anonymity, said that the management is battling to restore the hospitality outfit back to its normal condition.
Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail the level of damage caused by the storm.
A landlord, Chief Andy Eze, told The Tide in an interview that those affected by the incident need the support of both the state and federal governments.
He said in other parts of the country, people who suffered this type of problems were usually provided with relief materials.
Also speaking, a Professor of Sociology, University of Port Harcourt, Professor Mark Anikpo, said the persistency of such incidence may lead to more sufferings for the human population.
According to him, the situation could lead to food crisis as more farmlands will be washed off, while severe flooding will be experienced.
He stressed the need to step up campaigns against the erection of structures on water right of ways. Prof. Anikpo also warned against unnecessary movement during rainstorm occasioned by lightening as that can lead to loss of lives.
He also advised against living nearer to big trees and electricity poles.
Similarly, a lecturer at the Institute of Geosciences, Rivers State University, Dr. Precious Ede advised people to always plant trees with long tap roots to avoid them falling on houses during windstorm.
The university Don, who spoke in Port Harcourt also stressed the need for people to be vigilant as more of the incidents may be experienced this year in the state.
Also speaking, the Programme Director, Centre for Environment Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), Mr. Steve Obodoekwe, regretted that the incident occurred when there is extreme hardship in the country.
“The recent windstorm caused a lot of havoc in some parts of Port Harcourt.
“At this period of extreme hardship, peoples’ houses were deroofed, government and public spirited individuals and corporate bodies should consider it as a serious disaster and come to the aid of those affected.
Obodoekwe also stressed the need for the relevant authorities to visit the affected areas to assess the extent of damages with a view to working out emergency assistance in form of relief materials. For Mrs Binbeke Deele, a business woman, the incident is regrettable.
“I felt so bad when this incident happened. Some of these people cannot afford to buy the materials for the buildings of their houses.
“Government should help those who lost their property. Those who are rich should also help those poor people.
On his part, the chairman, Health, Safety and Environment Committee, Chinwo Town, Port Harcourt, Prince William Chinwo stressed the need for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to come to the aid of the people.

Environment

MOSOP – Tinubu Not Sincere With Ogoni People For Oil Resumption

Published

2 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lacking sincerity in ongoing efforts to restart oil exploration in Ogoniland, insisting that key confidence-building promises remain unfulfilled.Gas price forecast

Spokesperson of the Anda Wai-Ogosu faction of MOSOP, Mr. Oscar Imeabe, made the allegation while speaking at the May stakeholders’ meeting organised by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, PINL, in Port Harcourt.

Imeabe said the Federal Government had failed to implement critical measures it earlier described as confidence-building steps toward the resumption of oil production in Ogoni land.

He specifically cited the Federal University of Environmental Technology in Ogoni, noting that although the institution commenced operations in September 2025, it had not received any operational funding from the Federal Government as of May 2026.

“Part of the confidence building measures by President Tinubu was the establishment of the Federal University of Environmental Technology in Ogoni. The school took off since September 2025, but as we speak, this is May 2026, the Federal Government has not released any funds for the running of that university,” Imeabe said.

“So where is the confidence building measures the president talked about?”

The MOSOP spokesman also referenced the legacy of environmental activism in the region, recalling the execution of Ogoni leader Ken Saro-Wiwa and others, and the longstanding grievances over environmental degradation and economic exclusion linked to oil production.Gas price forecast

“I want to also remind us that people like Ken Saro-Wiwa fought and died for this same oil operations in Ogoni. Oil was being pumped in thousands of barrels in Ogoni, while Ogoni communities remained impoverished and the environment degraded and devastated,” he added.

Imeabe stressed that MOSOP was not opposed to the resumption of oil production in Ogoni, but insisted that due process, inclusion, and community participation must be guaranteed.

“We are not against oil resumption in Ogoni, but we are saying that the right thing should be done. The people of Ogoni must be involved in the oil resumption process. The people of Ogoni must be part of oil production. The people of Ogoni must benefit from Ogoni oil,” he said.

He urged stakeholders and advisers within the Federal Government to prevail on President Tinubu to fulfil earlier commitments and rebuild trust with the Ogoni people before any restart of oil operations in the area.

By: Kiadum Edookor

Environment

FG Pledge Support For IOM To Address Climate Incuced In West And Central Africa

Published

2 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has pledged support for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) initiative aimed at mobilising investment to address climate-induced migration in West and Central Africa.

The Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Lawal, made the commitment on Tuesday in Lagos at a regional conference organised by the IOM.

The Tide source reports that the conference was targeted at bridging the gap between climate change policy to the actual climate financing.

Lawal, who was represented by the Director of Climate Change in the ministry, Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, said Nigeria would continue to support efforts to bridge the gap between climate policy and financing.

The conference with the theme: “Migration and Climate Action in West and Central Africa: From Policy Commitment to Climate Mobility Investment,” brought together policymakers, development partners and financial institutions.

Lawal said the region was facing increasing environmental pressures, including desertification in the Sahel, coastal erosion in the Gulf of Guinea and flooding across major river basins.

“As widely recognised, climate change acts as a threat multiplier, intensifying vulnerabilities and influencing migration decisions.

“However, we must shift our perspective. Mobility is not only a crisis to be managed, but also a form of adaptation and a pathway to resilience when properly harnessed,” he said.

The minister said Nigeria had taken proactive steps through its National Adaptation Plan, which provides a long-term framework for building resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate risks.

He said the plan prioritised climate-resilient agriculture, water resource management, disaster risk reduction, urban resilience, infrastructure and ecosystem-based adaptation.

Lawal added that Nigeria was integrating human mobility into its climate policy frameworks, recognising migration as a legitimate adaptation strategy rather than solely a consequence of failed adaptation.

He said the country’s approach aligned with the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change.

Lawal stressed the need for greater investment in climate finance, resilient infrastructure, livelihoods and stronger regional cooperation.

“Without adequate investment, policy commitments risk remaining aspirational,” he said.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with regional partners, development institutions and the private sector to strengthen climate mobility governance and institutional capacity.

In her opening remarks, the IOM Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Ms Sylvia Ekra, said climate change was already reshaping livelihoods, economies and migration patterns across the region.

She said more than two million people in West and Central Africa had already been displaced by disasters.

According to her, up to 32 million people in the region could be forced to move internally by 2050 if inclusive and effective climate action is not taken.

“Mobility is not only a crisis. It is also part of the solution, enabling people to adapt, manage risks and preserve livelihoods,” she said.

Ekra noted that while policy frameworks existed, responses remained fragmented and insufficient in scale.

She said the conference was significant because it brought together climate and migration stakeholders to jointly develop practical financing solutions.

Also speaking, the Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca, reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to supporting IOM activities in Nigeria and across West and Central Africa.

De Luca described the EU as one of the world’s largest funding partners in the area of migration and said it would continue to work closely with the IOM on climate and migration issues.

Environment

NGOs Task Media On Investing In Climate Literacy

Published

2 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

Non Governmental Organisations in Abuja have urged media organisations to invest in climate literacy, aiming to move beyond basic weather reporting toward in-depth, solution-oriented journalism.

The NGOs made the call at a two-day Media Training Conference on “Climate Governance and Gender Mainstreaming in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Minamata Conventions”.

The Tide source reports that the training was organised by EnviroNews Advocacy & Campaigns for Sustainability (Endvocas) in collaboration with the Women Environmental Programme (WEP).

Rep. Sam Onuigbo, a former two-time member of the House of Representatives, said the media is a critical bridge between scientific knowledge and public action, necessitating specialised reporting to counter misinformation and drive accountability.

Onuigbo, who is also the sponsor of Nigeria’s Climate Change Act 2021, urged the media to also do investigative reports and have specialised environmental desks capable of sustaining informed public engagement.

“Journalism is the bridge between scientific knowledge and public consciousness.

“Scientists can publish reports, legislators can enact laws, and governments can formulate policies, but without journalists who translate technical realities into human understanding, public mobilisation becomes difficult.

“Climate journalism extends far beyond reporting temperature increases or covering international climate summits,” Onuigbo said.

According to him, Climate journalism involves holding governments accountable for climate commitments, investigating climate financing and environmental corruption and also to amplify the experiences of vulnerable communities.

“The Minamata Convention and Environmental Sustainability is beyond greenhouse gas emissions and rising temperatures.

“Environmental governance must also address toxic pollution and hazardous substances capable of threatening both human health and ecological sustainability.

“One of the most important international frameworks in this regard is the Minamata Convention on Mercury, adopted in 2013 and named after Minamata Bay in Japan where industrial mercury poisoning caused devastating health and environmental consequences.”

He stated that mercury pollution remains a major concern, particularly within artisanal and small-scale mining activities where unsafe mercury usage continues to contaminate water bodies, destroy ecosystems, and endanger human lives.

“The consequences include neurological disorders, developmental impairments, respiratory illnesses, and long-term ecological degradation.

“It is now a lived reality affecting communities across Nigeria and beyond. From devastating floods and desertification to food insecurity, displacement, shrinking water bodies, and rising temperatures.

“The consequences of climate disruption are already altering livelihoods and threatening national stability.

“Climate change is too large for one institution to solve alone. It demands a multistakeholder response involving legislatures, executives, the media, civil society, academia, the private sector, traditional institutions, women, and youths,” Onuigbo said.

Mr Michael Simire, Publisher of EnviroNews Nigeria, said that as climate impacts intensify across Nigeria, from devastating floods to heatwaves, biodiversity loss, and pollution, the need for informed, responsible, and gender responsive climate governance has never been more urgent.

“This is where the media stands tall.Journalists are not just storytellers; they are agenda setters, watchdogs, educators, and catalysts for change.

“The narratives you shape influence public perception, policy direction, and community action. When the media is empowered with knowledge, context, and clarity, society benefits from better governance, stronger advocacy, and more inclusive decision-making.

“Women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate change and mercury pollution, yet their voices remain underrepresented in policy spaces.

“Integrating gender perspectives into climate and environmental reporting is not optional, it is essential for justice, equity, and effective solutions,” Simire said.

Mr Steve Abu, the National Network Coordinator, Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet) said that in Nigeria and across Africa, climate change is no longer a headline about tomorrow, it is the reality people are surviving today.

“This is why the role of journalists, storytellers, editors, broadcasters, and digital creators has been more critical.

“It is the media that translates complexity into public understanding. It is the media that gives human faces to scientific statistics.

“It is the media that can transform climate conversations from conference halls into kitchen-table discussions across Africa.

Dr Priscilla Achakpa, Founder and Global Lead, Women Environmental Programme said that environmental communication must go beyond headlines.

“Across the world, climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is here with us. We see it in rising temperatures, devastating floods, prolonged droughts, food insecurity, displacement of communities, and growing threats to livelihoods and public health.

“These environmental crises are not just scientific or policy issues. They are human stories. They are economic stories. They are justice stories.

Achakpa added that the role of the media had never been more critical; the media is not merely a channel for information but a force for transformation.

“Without informed and consistent environmental reporting, many citizens may never fully understand the dangers of climate change or the hidden impacts of chemical pollution.

“We need reporting that helps citizens understand why flooding is becoming more frequent, Why heatwaves are intensifying, why unsafe mining practices and mercury exposure matter and why environmental policies should concern every Nigerian.

She emphasised that the fight against climate change and pollution cannot be won by governments alone.

“The stories you tell can influence national priorities.

The questions you ask can drive accountability.

The facts you publish can save lives. And the awareness you create can shape a more sustainable future.

“Because the future of our environment is ultimately the future of our people.

Together, let us amplify the voices for climate justice, environmental protection, and sustainable development,” Achakpa said.

Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe Director, Department of Climate Change in the Ministry of Environment, advocated gender responsive reporting as regards climate change.