An environmentalist, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, has urged oil firms in the Niger Delta to clean up polluted onshore sites before moving their activities offshore.
Bassey
made the call in Yenegoa, on Friday at an oilfield dialogue with the theme,
“Building Community Resilience against Fossils Extraction.”
The
event which was organsied by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) for oil
communities in Bayelsa was held at the banks of Taylor Creek, Agbia, Yenagoa.
The
environmentalist noted that the Niger Delta region enjoyed clean and natural
environment before the discovery of oil about 60 years ago.
He
said oil firms’ gradual shift to offshore posed greater danger to the fishing
vocation of people.
Bassey
said Niger Delta’s rich biodiversity with freshwater and marine ecosystems such
as rivers, lakes, streams and creeks had become more threatened.
According
to him, no fewer than six million persons may be pushed out of their fishing
occupation due to the activities of the oil firms in the region.
“It is of national
interest to protect the artisanal fishing industry. It is, however, regrettable
that most fresh water bodies have been lost to oil pollution,” he said.
Bassey further
expressed worries that many international oil firms were already divesting from
their onshore assets and moving their operations offshore.
“Their claim is that
the Niger Delta no longer suits their business model. They are trying to avoid
responsibilities arising from their environmental misbehaviour.
“They are leaving
after sucking the region dry and destroying the environment, if this pollution
is replicated offshore, the impact will be very tragic,” he said.
Also speaking at the
event, Mrs Alas Talani, described the damage on the freshwater bodies as
colossal.
“I started fishing at
the Taylor Creeks as a young girl, I got married and continued fishing with my
husband, we used to have bountiful catches.
“Fishing was
rewarding before the oil pipelines were laid, all one needed was to throw the
net and tie it across, a few hours later you have a full net.
“Things have changed,
as the oil leaks continued, fishing activities here at Taylor Creeks produced
little or no catch, we are endangered,” Talani said.
Also speaking, Chief
Washington Odoyibo, a community leader and fisherman, accused oil firms of
indulging in unfriendly environmental practices.
“Oil spills have
rendered us unproductive, the pollutions from oil exploration and production
did not also spare our farmlands,” Odoyibo said.
In her contribution,
Chief Ayibakoro Warder, a woman leader, commended HOMEF for organising the
dialogue, describing it as well intended.
“We commend you for
organsing this event, it has educated us on how to deal with the environmental
challenges that have been affecting us for a long time.
“The call for the
cleanup of polluted sites on the land and the need for stiffer penalties to
conserve the environment is in order, Warder said.
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