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Conserving Biodiversity In Niger Delta

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9 years ago

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Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States are the four states in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria that are currently benefiting from the Niger Delta Biodiversity Conservation programme of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The Niger Delta Biodiversity Conservation programme was launched by the UNDP in 2014 to protect the region’s flora and fauna from extinction.
The first phase of the programme, according to the organization will end in 2019. Information made available by the organisation listed key aspects of the programme as the protection of some sacred forests in the region, through a reforestation programme, protection of some wildlife in the region and protection of sacred grooves in the region, among others.
It would be noted that the UNDP is seriously concerned about the continuous destruction of the mangroves at Mogho in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State. The sacred Onura forest in Alesa-Eleme is being reafforested with the planting of trees and the Oko-ohia Afara forest in Afara community in Etche, all in Rivers State.
In Akwa-Ibom State, the organization is working hard to protect the Etem Okuku forest and its sacred monkeys in Eket, Akai Ikwolt forest and its sacred monkeys and grasscutters in Ikot Uso Akpan in Itu local government, and the Odoro Enan Eket forest which is alleged to be rich in biodiversity.
In Delta State, the UNDP is in the process of declaring the West African Dwarf crocodiles in Emu community, Ndokwa West Local Government Area as an endangered specie.
The crocodile which is known in the native language of the people as “Onye Emu” or “Nne Emu” is sacred to the Emu ethnic nationality. Moreover, the Onuku Shrine located at the source of the River Ethiope in Umuaja Akoku Kingdom in Ukwuani, Local Government Area, all in Delta, is being revered by the organization.
Conducting newsmen round the sites, the National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Biodiversity Conservation programme, Dr Mathew Dore, said that the UNDP is deeply concerned about the continuous destruction of the Niger Delta biodiversity resources by oil pollution.
Dr Dore said that the focus of the UNDP is for the preservation of these resources for future conerations of the respective communities, adding that the organization was taking journalists round the various states to showcase to the world, the rich biodiversity resources of the Niger Delta.
According to him, the effort was also meant to compel both national and state governments to invest in these areas with the view to turning them into world tourism sites.
The National Coordinator also said that the organization had already sensitized local communities on both the cultural and economic importance of these resources.
At the Etcem Okuku forest in Eket, Akwa-Ibom State, the people told journalists that they regard the sacred monkeys in the forest as their mothers and therefore are not hunted for either food or commercial purposes.
They, however, complained that the activities of multinational oil companies are now driving the monkeys to extinction and called for government intervention to save the animals.
Similarly, at Alesa community in the Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Paramour Ruler, HRH Emperor J.D. Nkpe told newsmen that despite the on-going reafforestation programme, the activities of property developers are affecting the forest.
Emperor Nkpe who told newsmen that the forest which is over 50 hectares is already being encroached upon by the people said that his palace is already lobbying some members of the state legislature to enact relevant laws to preserve the forest.
At the Oko-ohia Afara in Etche Local government Area, the community said that the forest is sacred as it is the abode of a goddess which protects it.
According to the Eze Ala Afara, Cyril Nwankwo, Oko-ohia-Afara is a deity that protects the community from time immemorial from evil attacks.
At Emu community in Ndokwa West Local Government Area, the people said that “Nne Emu” which is a specie of the West African dwarf crocodile is sacred to the community.
Chief Anthony Enyabego, a member of the Emu Kingdom Council of Chiefs, Ndokwa West Local Government Area, the crocodile has a historical linkage with the foundation of the kingdom.
He said that because of the crucial role played by the animal in ancient inter-tribal wars, no Emu man dares the animal either at home or abroad.
At the Onuku groove in Muaja Ukwuani Local Government Area, Delta State, Chief Odise Menogor, the Onochieze of Akoku Kingdom urged for the declaration of the shrine as a world heritage site.
The significance of the programme is that apart from its crude oil resources which is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, the Niger Delta region can also boast of other natural resources that can surpass oil in revenue generation.
It is against this background that stakeholders across the region are urging the government to key into the UNDP conservation programme through funding and legislations.

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MOSOP – Tinubu Not Sincere With Ogoni People For Oil Resumption

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6 days ago

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May 18, 2026

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

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6 days ago

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May 18, 2026

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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.
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NGOs Task Media On Investing In Climate Literacy

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6 days ago

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May 18, 2026

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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.
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