Mr Iniruo Wills, an Environmentalist says the clean-up of
oil pollution in the Niger Delta environment is fundamental to the economic
diversification policy of the federal government.
Wills, a former Commissioner for Environment said in Yenagoa
on Sunday that the environment in oil communities had been neglected for
several decades by oil firms and governments.
He said that diversification into agriculture and other
revenue sources being canvassed as a way out of the current economic downturn
would remain a mirage unless the environment was cleaned and restored.
He said that it was unfortunate that despite the central
role played by the environment as a support for life and economic activities
the country collectively neglected its environment resources which ought to be
preserved.
He explained that the environment was a common heritage
which provides support to mankind as well as the food chain amongst other bio
resources in the ecosystem to support life.
He observed that the rapid rate at which aluminum and iron
roofing sheets and even house paints wear out in the region was an indicator that
the atmosphere had high concentration of toxic substances.
“The collective neglect of the environment in the oil
communities in Bayelsa and across the Niger Delta since oil was struck in
Oloibiri is what has led to the current state of the environment.
“The Pollution level has gone so high that the environment
can no longer support fishing and farming and has eroded the livelihoods of our
people who depend on the environment for sustenance.
“And all of a sudden we are talking of diversification, it
must be a joke because the soil is polluted and so toxic, so diversification at
lease in the Niger Delta cannot happen with the environment polluted.
“I think the stakeholders have to declare a state of
emergency on the Niger Delta environment and take deliberate steps to restore
the environment to its natural state even if it means putting a moratorium on
environment.
“The toxicity level of the environment is frightening, for
instance a pilot study carried out across the Niger Delta states showed clearly
a pollution of surface and underground waters beyond safe limits.
“The same study revealed that the benzene gas found in the
air we breathe is 1,000 times above internationally acceptable safe limits.
“Despite the alarming results no state government across the
region has deemed it fit to extend the scope of the study to cover wider areas,
the neglect by federal government is obvious but what about our governors who
are even nearer to us?
“Since 1999 we have been governed by our own people and we
have to hold them accountable,” Will said.
He therefore advised that government should take steps to
clean up oil pollution in the Niger Delta and take steps to conserve the
environment as a foundational step before diversification into agriculture in
the Niger Delta region.
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