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N’Delta Faces Resource Depletion -Experts
Experts in the environment sector have raised alarm that Niger Delta states may face resource depletion, if they fail to evolve proactive measures to check biodiversity exploitation on a large scale.
The experts made their view public at a one-day seminar organised by the Department of Animal/Environmental Biology, Rivers State University in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) tagged, “Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation in Government and Oil and Gas Operations and Policies in the Niger Delta”, last Monday in Port Harcourt.
Professor of Conservation in the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology in the state university, Prof. Godfrey Akani observed that the issue of biodiversity and conservation has become a source of concern since the region has faced a lot of environmental degradation arising from oil exploration and production over the years.
He said, “…In the Niger Delta, several wildlife species are on the brink of extinction – traceable also to multiple pressures, including unbridled anthropogenic activities, and oil and gas operations”.
Akani maintained that, “We will not like our biodiversity status to degenerate to the level observed in the Caspian littoral states. We have ample reasons to protect our biodiversity from depletion”.
In his paper titled, “Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Oil and Gas Operations and Policies in the Niger Delta: The Case of Delta State”, Director, Ministry of Environment, Delta State, Dr. Obiebi Emamezi said, “the more we delay enforcing biodiversity laws, the more we are hastening our extinction”.
Emamezi stressed the need to enforce conservation laws that will protect natural resources from poaching, deforestation, contamination and pollution, while regretting that so many conserved areas in the region were now under serious danger.
He added that, “60 to 80 per cent of endangered species of animals in Africa are found in the Niger Delta”, and that, “50 per cent of fish harvested in the Gulf of Guinea breed in the Niger Delta”.
The director recommended the need for collaboration between government and oil exploration and production firms in implementing environmental protection laws and policies affecting their activities.
Similarly, Director of Forestry in the Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Nkemdirim Odoya warned that the expanse of land covering over 46,000 square kilometres in the Niger Delta was under threat because of “over exploitation, over-hunting, and over-harvesting of wildlife”.
She said that, “the over-harvesting of wildlife is such that it depletes the growing areas, and most of our wetlands now are now being converted to waste lands”.
Odoya recommended the urgency for trained manpower, budgetary allocation for environmental protection and the need to enforce existing laws on deforestation and wildlife poaching.
The same view was expressed by former director of Forestry in Bayelsa State, Mr. George Amoru, who lamented that among the 12 conserved sites in the state; only two are existing and are now facing extinction due to human poaching, dredging, oil exploration, and total negligence by the authorities.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.