Environment
Stakeholders Want Commitment To End Gas Flaring
Stakeholders in the Niger Delta region are urging for a firm commitment by the government to end gas flaring and other forms of pollution in the region.
The stakeholders said this at a forum organised by the institute of strategic management Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter in Port Harcourt.
In his lecture entitled: “Critical Environmental Challenges in Rivers State, Exploring Strategic Solutions,” Dr Sofin Peterside said that billions of dollars have been flared inform of gas since the discovery of oil in the country.
“Every year, millions of dollars are literally going up in smoke in the Niger Delta as companies burn off unwanted gas released during oil production.
“The Government at a time fixed December 2012 as the new deadline to end all forms of gas flaring in Nigeria.
“This was not to be feasible as the country is still rated the second worst flaring nation in the world.”
According to him, an estimated $2.5 billion was reportedly lost yearly due to lack of infrastructures to harness gas.
Dr Peterside, who is the Director of the Centre for Advanced Social Science (CASS) listed the health implications of gas flare to include climate change which leads to increase in temperature which affects the human skin.
“The sea level rise, precipitation, direct solar radiation and its resultant depletion of the ozone layer.
The university don also decried the incident of the black soot in the state.
“It is now common knowledge that since late November 2017, strange black soot has been present in the atmosphere, scaring residents of Port Harcourt City and other neigbouring Local Government Areas such as Eleme, Oyigbo, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Khana, Gokana and Tai.
“The clouds became hazy and grey, if you hang your cloths before you know it, they have become black,” he said.
The university don also decried the non cleanup of Ogoniland, stressing that oil contamination in Ogoniland is widespread and severely impacting many components of the environment.
“Although the oil industry is no longer alive in the area, oil spills continue to occur with alarming regularity,” he said.
Also speaking on Human and Economic Cost of Environmental Challenges in Rivers State, Mr Eugene Abels, described the pollution of the Niger Delta as alarming.
Mr Abels said that the advent of illegal oil bunkering in the region has set the region back educationally, stressing that presently, the region is witnessing a high school dropout.
According to him, “instead of being in school, young men, women and children take to the creeks to make quick money from illegal refining.
“Even children who are not able to go to the creeks move about with jerry cans hawking bunkered fuel,” he said.
The Lagos State Government has commenced installation of new pumps at the Iju Headworks and Akute water intake stations.
The Tide source reports that the project is aimed at increasing water production, improving operational efficiency and expanding access to potable water across the state.
A statement issued by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) over the weekend said the project was approved and funded by the state government.
It said the installation was part of the rehabilitation of the Iju Headworks and Akute Intake Station under Lots 1, 2 and 3.
According to LWC, the rehabilitation is designed to modernise water production facilities, strengthen operations and improve public water supply.
The Network of Female Professionals in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Nigeria (FEMinWASH) and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) are set to partner on gender-responsive systems strengthening, capacity development and WASH initiatives.
The partnership was proposed during a courtesy visit by a FEMinWASH delegation, led by its President and Convener, Dr Boluwaji Onabolu, to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, in Abuja.
Onabolu, who conveyed greetings from FEMinWASH Patron, retired Engineer Ebele Okeke, commended Walson-Jack for upholding the Federal Civil Service’s EPIC values of Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-centred leadership.
She praised the HoCSF’s efforts in advancing gender inclusion in WASH and the civil service, including the development of the National Gender in Water Resources Mainstreaming Policy and mentoring programmes for women leaders.
Onabolu also highlighted the INSPIRE (Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women) programme, aimed at strengthening women’s leadership and inclusion.
She said FEMinWASH was seeking a formal partnership and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the OHCSF to support INSPIRE, WASH advocacy, capacity building and the institutionalisation of Gender-Responsive Budgeting across the Federal Civil Service.
Responding, Walson-Jack commended the diverse expertise of the FEMinWASH delegation, noting that professionals in WASH, water resources, environment, public health, town planning and education were critical to addressing development challenges.
She welcomed the proposed partnership, assuring that the OHCSF was ready to collaborate with FEMinWASH on civil service strengthening and WASH-related initiatives.
The meeting agreed to further engagements with Dr Garba, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), and Ms Funke Baruwa, Lead for Partnerships at the OHCSF, to advance the collaboration.
The visit ended with a photo session and exchange of gifts between both parties.
The Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, commended the community on the massive turn-out for sanitation.
He also appreciated the chairman and his team for their support to the ministry.
Rotimi-Akodu urged the community to continue to support the council and by extension, the government, by participating in the exercise and engaging in proper disposal of wastes.
“We have heard your appeal, and I assure you that Lagos government will do something about it.
“Although we have PSP operators in this axis, maybe they were assigned to other areas.
“However, I will ensure something is done and residents will observe the improvement.” the advisor said.
Also, the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LASMA), Mr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said that waste management was a collective exercise.
Gbadegbesin, therefore, appealed to the residents to always dispose of their wastes properly.
“You must bag your waste at home. Make sure you have a bin to keep the waste for few days, even if there is a delay by the PSP operator.
“Make sure you pay your PSP operator on time because there is no way they can provide that service if you are not paying them regularly.
The Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Go Green Nigeria Foundation, , has called for more stringent government efforts toward prohibition of illegal sand mining in Rivers, following erosion threats.
The founder of NGO Dr John Babington made the call on last Monday in Umuechem, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers, to commemorate the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems.
Babington, who sensitised the community on dangers associated with crude sand mining, donated some trees as part of efforts to promote tree planting and revitalisation of the altered mangrove ecosystem.
During an interactive session with the community, the environmental expert identified various concerns and commended residents for their willingness to work together to end the excavation.
He, however, dismissed the notion that illegal sand mining was due to poverty and unemployment, saying, ”the business is a capital intensive venture that could only be operated by a rich cartel.”
He said that though the business might have provided menial jobs for few youths, it had not in any manner addressed poverty.
Presently, the landscape is altered with an artificial river encroaching a major access road and threatening public safety,” he said.
Also speaking, a senior Chief in the community, Chief Gilbert Otamiri commended the NGO for the initiative and promised to collaborate with them.
Gilbert, however, urged the government to tackle unemployment which, he said, was a major promoter of the illegal excavation
Also speaking, The Community Development Chairman (CDC) Mr Agbam Mgbechi thanked the group for the sensitisation and donation of trees.
He called on the government and concerned induviduals to emulate the group by making efforts towards salvaging the area from further environmental damage.
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