By Ofonime Honesty
The present state of the Akwa Ibom
environment - especially the oil producing areas - is appalling. Quite
an eyesore! Though natural phenomena like erosion, flood and climate
change are major factors which adversely affect the environment,
consequences of human activities like gas flaring and oil spillage have
threatened an imminent collapse of our ecosystem.
The situation
is worsened by the lack of commitment in rectifying the anomaly. This
laissez-faire attitude has continued unabated despite rife outcry by the
victims as well as relevant Environment Protection Laws.
As contained
in Section 20 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria (as amended), government is empowered to protect and improve the
environment and safeguard the water, air and land, forest and wildlife
of Nigeria.
Futhermore, states in the federation also have Laws
aimed at safeguarding the environment. In Akwa Ibom State, the
Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency Law established the
Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency vested with the
responsibilities which include identifying and proffering solutions to
environmental protection problems in Akwa Ibom, and monitoring and
enforcing environmental protection standards and regulations.
While stakeholders, especially the transnational oil companies, have
exhibited zero concern for the wellbeing of their operational domain and
its inhabitants, the victims of these acts of degradation are left to
their fate.
This has led to countless litigation against the oil
companies.
The effects of the negative activities of the oil
companies include, air pollution, water pollution, soil degradation,
health risks such as cancer and respiratory ailments, loss of
biodiversity (killing of plants/ animals in land and water) and
depletion of the ozone layer.
Scientists have warned that EXTINCTION is likely to be the long term effect of environmental degradation.
The sensitivity of this issue calls for concern. I had firsthand experience of the damage done to the Akwa Ibom environment in early 2016, when I joined few colleagues on a fact finding mission to Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of the state.
The sensitivity of this issue calls for concern. I had firsthand experience of the damage done to the Akwa Ibom environment in early 2016, when I joined few colleagues on a fact finding mission to Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of the state.
Eastern Obolo, despite
being the highest crude oil producer in Akwa Ibom State, is perhaps the
most underdeveloped place in the state.
It plays host to oil firms
including Exxon Mobil, Shell Petroleum Development Company and Amni
International Petroleum Development Company.
Crops planted on
Eastern Obolo soil are diseased because the land is poisoned by oil
activities. Their waters aren’t fit for consumption because of oil
spillage.
No development projects like roads, hospitals and electricity.
Throughout our over six hour tour of Eastern Obolo, our mobile phones
barely had access to network.
The Chairman, Eastern Obolo
Traditional Rulers’ Council, His Royal Highness, Job Job, revealed that
of an estimated 4,000 oil spill in the Niger Delta region from 1956 to
date, Eastern Obolo records 145 oil spills with 65 incidences not
admitted to by the oil firms; as well as gas flaring, environmental
degeneration and diseases.
He added that, “since the creation of
Eastern Obolo in 1996, not even a kilometre of road has been constructed
by the government.”
Continuing, the royal father decried that
Eastern Obolo is the only core oil producing council area in Akwa Ibom
whose indigene has not sat on the board of the Niger Delta Development
Commission since its establishment in 2000.
Eastern Obolo’s gory
situation report is akin to the proverbial killing of the goose which
lays the golden eggs. Similar scenarios are replicated throughout the
state.
From the foregoing, urgent attention must be dissipated.
The level of environmental degradation in Akwa Ibom has reached an
unbearable level.
Paying lip service to the problem isn’t the
solution. Firstly, the state government should realize that it has the
Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency Law in its kitty.
Enforcing the Law will compel the oil producing companies to respect our
environment, and invariably respect us, the indigenes. Government must
prove her supremacy in this issue.
To curtail future mishaps, no
exploration of natural resources must be carried out without a foolproof
Environmental Impact Assessment. An immediate halt on gas flaring and
paying of compensation to victims must be carried out.
Recently, the Akwa Ibom State government dragged an oil services
company, Globestar Engineering Nigeria Limited to court over failure to
pay a whooping 65bn Naira tax liabilities. Multinational companies must
pay tax unfailingly.
Corporate social responsibilities must also be made
to be compulsory for such companies.
Akwa Ibom Government must
press ahead with the agitation for relocation of headquarters of oil
exploration companies to the state.
Also, telecommunication
companies should henceforth desist from installing telecommunication
masts near residential areas because of the adverse health effects.
On their part, Akwa Ibom people must sanitize their immediate
environment to avoid contracting diseases which breed in dirty
environments.
Akwa Ibom is ours! The time to act is now! Better late than never!
(Ofonime Honesty is a journalist. honestyofonime@yahoo.com +2348025286082)
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