Gas flaring: Stakeholders blame Western banks for environmental degradation
Stakeholders, including traditional rulers, have blamed Western banks for funding the activities of multi-national oil companies for oil exploration in the Niger Delta, thus intensifying environmental degradation.
They also faulted community leaders for compromising due to poverty and the divide-and-rule strategy used by the oil companies.
In a communiqué at the end of a one-day roundtable meeting organised by ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) in Asaba, Delta State, stakeholders added that all multi-national companies must, as a necessity, have a carbon gas desk.
The communiqué was signed by Mr Andrew Mamedu, Country Director, AAN; Ms Sonia Elohor Somuvie, representative of the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment; Senator Ned Nwoko; Dr Chidi Nwankpa, representative of the Chairman, House Committee on Climate Change; and Hon. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha, representative of the Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta. Other signatories include representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), traditional rulers, and communities.
They called for ways to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, with a strong penalty for oil companies guilty of gas flaring.
While bemoaning that existing policies on climate and environmental change are not being implemented, they blamed Nigerian leaders for lacking the political will to implement relevant laws to stop gas flaring in the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
Stakeholders took a swipe at gas flaring, waste from water channels, and the issue of deforestation. They called for the enforcement of already existing policies concerning the fight against abnormalities associated with oil explorations in the Niger Delta.
They also advocated a proper cleanup of areas affected by oil spillages in the Niger Delta and the fostering of good operational relationships amongst community members and leaders, oil companies, and the government.
The participants further advised that the Nigerian government should be given conditions for accessing global funds for environmental issues. They also tasked the government with facilitating conversation amongst key stakeholders affected by the oil exploration in the Niger Delta communities.
While emphasising the importance of strong synergy in the fight for climate and environmental justice in the Niger Delta area, the communiqué urged host communities to start taking advantage of the laws guiding multinationals to start using them to their advantage.
