‘Lack Of Proactive Measures, Bane Of N’Delta Environment’

The Acting Director, Centre for Conflict and Gender Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Professor Fidelis Allen, has attributed the incessant conflicts in Niger Delta to lack of proactive measures to address the environmental challenges  in the region.
Allen said this last Friday, while declaring open the 2017 essay writing and quiz competition organized for secondary schools in Rivers State by the Department of centre for Conflict and Gender Studies, uniport, in conjuction with the National Coalition on Gas Flaring and Oil Spills in Niger Delta (NACGOND) in Port Harcourt.
According to him, environmental challenges, due to the activities of oil companies and illegal bunkering is the key trigger of conflicts in Niger Delta region, and if proactive measures are not taken to address the major challenges like gas flaring and oil spillage, conflicts in the area would be difficult to resolve.
“You will agree with me that the environmental challenges  as a result of the multi-national oil companies  activities  in Niger Delta region is the key trigger of violence.”
Professor Allen said the essay and quiz competition for secondary schools was aimed at educating students and young people on environmental issues in Niger Delta region and Nigeria in general.
He said the competition is a yearly programme organized by the department in conjunction with NACGOND as part of the awareness campaign on environmental related  issues affecting human being in the society.

Enoch Epelle