Environment
The Challenge Of Biodiversity In The Niger Delta
Issues of insecurity and poverty in the Niger Delta region were at the front burner of a recent project steering committee meeting of the Niger Delta Biodiversity conservation programme.
The Niger Delta Biodiversity conservation programme is a United Nation’s Development Programme (UNDP)- sponsored programme to preserve the natural resources of the region from extinction.
Information obtained from the website of the organisation defines the goal of the programme as a contribution towards the sustainable use of the significant biological diversity in the Niger Delta to uplift the living standard of the people.
According to the UNDP, “the project is to mainstream biodiversity management priorities into the Niger Delta oil and gas sector development policies and operations.”
Aligned with the Global Environment Facilities (GEF), the project also seeks to strengthen the policy and regulatory framework for mainstreaming biodiversity.
The UNDP also said that, “the project will target Nigeria’s oil and gas sector which is the backbone of Nigeria’s economy.
The Niger Delta biodiversity project is currently running in four states of the region. The states are Akwa-Ibom, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States.
Thus, the project steering committee meeing which held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State captial was to take stock of achievements recorded so far with a view to planning ahead.
The meeting was attended by all members of the committee, including traditional rulers, officials of the conservation programme, community leaders, members of the civil society, top civil servants, members of the academia, journalists and others drawn from the four implementing states of Rivers, Akwa-Ibom Delta and Bayelsa.
Day one of the meeting featured the project over view, progress report, actions from last project steering committee (PSC) meeting states/key, achievements of 2017, implementation, midterm review, state/community updates by the four states as well as updates by oil companies.
Also featured were special sessions on project implementation challenges/ risk, state government commitment, community, oil companies engagements, project sustainability and recommendations.
Day two witnessed the presentation of priorities for 2018, draft work plan for 2018 as well as discussions and endorsement of the 2018 draft workplan.
National coordinator of the programme, Dr Mathew Dore said that within the past three years, the UNDP has evolved measures towards the preservation of rare animal and plant species in the Niger Delta region.
Dr Dare added that, several studies were carried out within the last three years on variety of issues, one of which was reforestation, stressing that in this world of climate change, the UNDP was aligning and engaging with oil bearing communities to protect globally endangered species.
Accordingly, over 54,000 trees of various species have been planted across the four implementing states. Dr Dore listed communities that benefitted from the tree planting programme to include, Esit Eket, and Odio in Akwa-Ibom state, Kwana, Magho, Afara Etche and Alesa Eleme in Rivers State.
In Bayelsa , Ogbogolo Samgbe, Oluasiri, Zarama, Ayama, Adigbe and Biseni were beneficiaries of the tree planting programme while in Delta State planting and scoping were carried out at Umuaja, profiling of Abigborodo community in Delta North, engagement of the people of Abigborodo in mangrove tree planting, while a study on the use of raffia palm was carried out in the community.
Furthermore, in Delta State, trees were planted in Patani, Udipbori, while the existing man and animal relationship were preserved by ensuring the survival of the West African dwarf crocodile in Emu community in Ndokra West Local Government area.
Dr Dore said that several communities in the region were taught on the conversion of water hyacinth to produce organic manure.
He described the Niger Delta as a complex ecosystem, adding that the problems of poverty, hunger and deprivations in the region have made it difficult for people to conserve their natural resources.
Also speaking, the former Regional Manager, Environment, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), Engr Charles Oforo, said that sustainability of the project depended on the collaboration between the UNDP, multinational oil companies operating in the region, the various state governments and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Engr Okoro said that the communities must be made to see the project as their own, while the government must take the issue of conservation seriously. He particularly criticised the NDDC for not giving serious attention to issue of biodiversity conservation in the region, adding that the three percent annual budget of oil companies to the commission are not meant for the purchasing of vehicles but to empower the people and preserve the Niger Delta ecosystem.
Also speaking Professor Maxwell Iweghue of Delta State University, Abraka, regretted that the governments were not giving attention to the issue of biodiversity conservation in the country.
The university don also decried the lack of drainages and parks in most cities in the country, adding that time has come for the society to appreciate the importance of the ecosystem and take practical steps to preserve them.
He commended the UNDP for the efforts so far, but stressed the need for more awareness programme on the importance of conservation.
For Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Delta State, Mrs Ukem Ajofo, the state government is ready to assist the UNDP to actualise the project in Delta state.
A traditional ruler, HRH, Samuel Ekaso, from Odio Community Eket, urged for more effort by the UNDP to check the ravaging effect of the Nipa palm in communities in the Eke area of Akwa-Ibom state.
He also called for a trust fund for communities with a view to empowering them to protect their environment.
Each of the states affected in the programme also took time to highlight areas of challenges in the implementation of the programme.
The four states which spoke on implementation of challenges/risk identified bureaucracy, lack of government commitment, issues of conservation, poverty as well as inadequate manpower in forestry management in the region as some of the problems they experience. They also identified youth restiveness, incessant demands for compensations by communities in the region and lack of alternative source of livelihood for the people.
The states stressed the need for poverty eradication programme, employment and training of forest guards in the region, while illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalisation be checked. The Niger Delta region has lost several of its animals and plant species to oil exploration and exploiting activities and the call for conservation is coming at a time when the region needs to regenerate itself with a view to preserving its resources to generations unborn.
Moreover, Nigeria is a signatory on the ban on trade on endangered species and the African convention on the preservation of nature and natural resources.
Some residents of Port Harcourt and its environs have reacted to the impending flooding in parts of the country, including Rivers state.
It would be recalled that the federal government last week predicted flooding in some states in the country, including Rivers State.
A cross session of residents who spoke to The Tide on the issue said time has come for residents to be careful about the way they managed their waste, especially at this time of the year.
According to them, people must avoid blocking water channels as well as indiscriminate dumping of waste into water channels.
Speaking with The Tide, an Environmentalist, Elder Blessing Jackson Tiko, called for caution by residents of Port Harcourt and its environs
Tiko who was a former deputy operational officer Phalga Environmental Sanitation Taskforce, said people must be conscious of the way and manner that they manage their waste.
“We know that we have the rain and if you watch it is coming especially this month of July,it would rain and rain and rain
“We have to be very conscious of how we manage our environmental system, the way we throw our waste and how we evacuate it so that every where will be open for water to move freely
“Water doesn’t want blockage, water wants free flow, ’he said
Tiko urged state governments to liaise with the federal government and development agencies to dredge and open up river channels to enable Water move freely.
He particularly called on the Niger Delta Basine Development Authority and the Niger Delta Development Commission to liaise with state governments in the quest to end flooding in the states.
Also speaking, Mrs. Alice. A. Alabo a trader at Mile 3 Port Harcourt, urged the state government to do something on the constant flooding at the Abuja bypass in Mile 3 Diobu, Port Harcourt,
She said the bypass is always flooded at every little rainfalls stressing that something must be done about it.
Alabo also told The Tide Correspondents that the Abuja bypass has no receptacles and called on the management of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency to provide receptacles for the people, to ensure proper waste disposal in the area.
“The government should provide us with receptacles for us to properly place our waste which is causing the flooding in the area.
A shop owner Dickey, Livia Marko lemanted the incessant flooding along the Abuja bypass, adding that the situation is affecting their businesses.
“We have been begging the Rivers State Government and the local government to come to our aid.
“The Ego Line Progressive Union contributes N10,000 every year to make sure that we evacuate the drainage.
“We called the Hausa boys to come and clean from the beginning to the end of the tunnel which leads to the Interwoba
“So immediately after each rainfall within 10 minutes it will dry otherwise we cannot stay in our shop.
“I am begging the government to come to our rescue, even if they want to open the gutter or canal. It will help in preventing the flooding or they should clean the gutters starting from Ikwerre Road to the Interwoba axis”, he said
On his part,Mr. Ajaka Olawa, lamented that the flooding in Timber area by Abuja bypass area is so terrible that no businesses can easily be carried on in the area.
He blamed it on the continuous blockage of drainages
. “I can’t remember the last time the government came to clean the drainage, so when it rains we find it difficult to stay here.
“Some of our shops are wet because of the flooding. And if the rain falls heavily, we pack our goods. If not. they get damaged, and I am expecting this message to reach the government for them to do something about it”
“The people, the government gives the job are not being followed up, that’s why the road is still looking bad,
“The government is trying, but they should put more effort to make sure that the jobs are being carried out.
Also, Mr. Chukuma said, during the flooding along Abuja bypass by Timber, no activities take place.
He said that if rain falls, either little or heavy, none can use the road because the road will be inundated by water. Sometimes it takes two to three days for the water to dry.
According to him, eight years ago, the former governor was here to see things for himself, but nothing happened till he left office.
By: Victoria Gilbert / Ossia Victory
Following the rising impact of toxic waste in the Niger Delta communities in Nigeria, an Ecological Think Tank, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, has urged oil-producing communities in the region to monitor their environment and report incidents of pollution or other environmental hazards in real time to appropriate authorities.
The Project Manager, Communities and Culture, HOMEF, Cadmus Atake gave the advice last Friday during a Community Environmental Monitoring Training for the people of Nembe, Town-Brass in Bayelsa and Eastern Obolo, Akwa Ibom States respectively which was held in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Atake said though the extractive activities of oil companies have impacted negatively on the communities, the people still have a role to play in protecting the environment by not throwing plastics in the water bodies or engaging in activities inimical to the environment.
He said, “The purpose is to train the people on how they can monitor their environment that has been impacted by extractive activities, for them to observe the changes that occur in their environment and things they see when they go out to fish.”
Atake also harped on the need for documentation and reporting of the identified environmental challenges or pollution, saying that monitoring without reporting would be an effort in futility even as he tasked them with the accuracy, authenticity and originality of data without any mutilation.
He encouraged people to use mobile phones to take real-time photos and videos without editing the images in the case of pollution or oil spills.
His words, “Reporting is an essential aspect of any monitoring activity. It affords the opportunities to track the activity and its impacts. It makes an activity visible and draws attention to it. Also, it helps to identify associated risks and to know the required controls and learning outcomes needed to prevent the reoccurrence of failures of an activity. No monitoring exercise is complete without a report of observations and a point of action.
“You must identify what caused the pollution, state the name of the community and landmark and if possible, use GPS, time and date the pollution was observed.”
One of the participants, OmusuoDieworio from Bayelsa State noted that apart from the activities of the multinationals, the people have contributed to the disappearance of fishes in the rivers by dumping refuse and plastic wastes inside the river which posed a great threat to fishes even as he urged community leaders to promulgate laws prohibiting that and the youth leaders to ensure the enforcement.
“Our people should be sensitized on the hazards of toxic waste. We should put laws that are binding on us. Our fishermen should discipline themselves enough after drinking sachet water eating should not drop the waterproof inside the water. They should also be discouraged from using dynamite and other chemicals for fishing as all these are harmful to both the aquatic animals and human beings that will consume it.” He said.
Speaking on the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, UmoIsua-Ikoh of the Peace Pact Development Foundation, said the provision in the PIA where the community should forfeit its 3% development fund in case of pipeline vandalism criminalizes the community and should be expunged noting that no community will agree to vandalize pipeline but an individual or a criminal.
He said they should go after anyone who vandalises pipelines and not make the entire community bear the brunt of one person.
On his part, Stephen Oduware, the Program Manager at Fossil Politics, called on the communities to network with CSOs, CBOs, doctors, lawyers, media especially those from their communities and other community members who have the community at heart to advocate at all fronts.
“The community people should partner with CSOs, CBOs so that they will be able to advocate from all fronts from the health implication of this pollution from the legal and human right violations as a result of this pollution, land grabbing and then they will be able to get well-researched works from the academics, we believe that with this network they will be able to push for the justice they needed.” He said.
The Delta State Govern-
ment says it is working hard to tackle the issue of climate change in the state.
Special Adviser to the state Governor on Sustainable Development Goals) (SDGs, Lady Diana Eyo _Enoette, said this in an interview with newsmen during the launching of Green City Project in Port Harcourt.
She said the government was doing this by raising awareness on the impact of climate change in the State and also control the indiscriminate dumping of waste across the State.
Eye-Emoette said government has also setup scouts across the State to embark on tree planting campaign in all nooks and crannies of Delta State.
She said time has come for governments across the Niger Delta region to create more awareness on climate change, adding that continuous human activities in the region have made it vulnerable to climate change
Diana described her government as a leading voice on climate change as far as the Niger Delta region is concerned and stressed the need for other governments in the region to follow suit.
She said Green City’s initiatives have become a potent weapon in fighting climate change, stressing that the initiative is coming at the appropriate time.
The special advise said governments across the country should key into the green city’s projects inorder to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
Meanwhile, a university teacher, Professor Magnus Onuoha, has called for conscious efforts by governments across Africa to check carbon emissions.
The university teacher also described the green city’s initiatives as a safe avenue for emerging cities in Africa.
Prof Onuoha, who spoke via videophone described the project as innovative, adding that climate change is real and no longer fallacies.
According to him “it is glaringly telling on our faces and the possibility of it going away is not there”.
He said.
By: John Bibor