Climate Change: Experts Call For Economic Diversification

A coalition of
environmental rights organisations have  called for diversification of the Nigerian economy from oil to reduce adverse effects of climate change.
The coalition led by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and Nengi James Foundation made the call at an advocacy event to end Nigerian economic total dependence on oil.
Our correspondent  reports that represen-tatives of oil communities in Bayelsa and environmentalists gathered at the first oil well in Nigeria to emphasize fossil fuels role in climate change.
Nigeria’s first oil well is located at Oloibiri in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
Speaking at the event, Rev. Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director, HOMEF, noted that over dependence on oil has degraded the environment and is a key driver of global warming.
According to him, fossil fuels, from exploration to production and usage, degrade the environment.
“The state of Oloibiri oil well where oil was first struck in commercial quantities demands outcries for the Nigerian economy to be diversified.
“We must break free from the bondage of fossil fuels.
“Diversifying from oil will ensure that the Nigerian economy will work for Nigerians, it is time to move on from fossil fuels and look at other available renewable energy sources
“Globally, fossil fuels extraction and use is the major driver of climate change, today our weather is unbearably hot.
“Our waters are so polluted with crude oil that we cannot dive into it to cool our bodies. Some of our rivers even go up in flames,” Bassey said.