The Federal Government has been called upon to facilitate the implementation and enforcement of policies and already existing environmental laws to cushion the effects of carbon emissions and gas flaring in the Niger Delta region.
Stakeholders in Rivers State made the call during a multi-stakeholder dialogue on carbon offset study organized by Search for Common Ground (SFCG), in partnership with Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), and Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND), held in Port Harcourt.
The event which was part of an ongoing European Union’s (EU) sponsored community-centered approach project, geared towards transforming criminality and violence in the Niger Delta, had representatives from the state government, traditional rulers, security agencies, CSOs and other critical stakeholders in attendance, to discuss the potential of carbon offset initiatives and their impact on local communities.
The dialogue also explored how carbon offset projects could contribute to peacebuilding, the restoration of livelihoods and sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.
Speaking at the event, SFCG’s Policy and Advocacy Specialist on the EU-Niger Delta Project, Caleb Tidi, explained that the dialogue with theme; “From Degradation to Regeneration: Local Solutions for Carbon Offsetting in Rivers State” was aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of carbon offset initiative, the implications for local livelihoods, as well as coming up with recommendations to address complex environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development in the region.
Tidi described the Niger Delta region as the hub of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, but regretted that the region is more ravaged by environmental degradation, which he blames on the continuous activities oil the IOCs around the natural resources (the oil and gas).
He said, “The study was on carbon offset within the Niger Delta, and the essence is to determine the extent this carbon is affecting the people of the region, and create awareness among the people on what carbon offset can do to improve the environment.
“So that brings us to why we came up with this initiative that would try to offset this carbon footprint that has been emitted into the environment, which has caused a lot of environmental degradation, leading to loss of livelihoods and promoting criminality in the Niger Delta.”
On his part, Chairman of the Rivers State Peace Architecture (SPA), Prince Charles Beke said “Although, the state and federal government have policies and agencies put in place to cushion the effects of these issues of pollution and environmental degradation, but I don’t think they are doing this to the best interest of the society and communities.”
He said the government needs to do more to add to what Common Ground has done, adding that, “the study which this NGO has done is a ground for the government to take the template produced and see how they can create policies that would cause environmental awareness in the people.
“They should also create an avenue to ensure a reduction in the emissions or carbon footsteps that were already released into society.”
Prince Beke also urged other stakeholders and participants at the dialogue to go back home and educate their people on what they have learnt at the meeting.
“We the SPA, have resolved that part of the policies we want to engage in is to visit the traditional rulers and community leaders to educate them and sensitize them based on the findings and recommendations from the dialogue and their roles to achieve these things we are advocating for as well.”
Paramount Ruler of the Ataijong community in Andoni local government area of the state, His Eminence, Amb. Emmanuel Isijana Samuel decried how oil and gas exploration by IOCs has destroyed the Niger Delta ecosystem, especially the aquatic lives and trees.
“The Niger Delta people, we are mainly farmers and fishermen. Our economic lives, our lands and water are badly affected by the activities of these IOCs, they are highly polluted, and our environment is degraded, people are dying.
“Ordinarily, there are laws that were meant to checkmate the activities of the multinational oil companies in our communities and the Niger Delta region.
But what the IOCs do is, instead of trying to remedy the damages they have caused and either empower or employ the people, they will try to divide and rule, which in turn will lead to crisis and conflict in our communities.
“We are fishermen and farmers. Is it not an aberration for one to be doing a fish farm in Rivers State?
This is happening because our seas and rivers, created by God, with billions of fish inside them to catch, is highly polluted. If you go fishing now, you will toil for 24 hours without getting anything tangible.
“Also, from the study, we saw the high rate of unemployment and low education rate. Even when these IOCs employ our people, they hire them as casual Staff, instead of permanent Staff.
“So, the government should stop window dressing, they should lead the charge by implementing the laws, hold the IOCs and ensure they pay for what they have done.
“The government should also try to make our refineries work.
If our refineries are working, there would be no need for illegal bunkering or “kpofire” as its been called to continue,” he said.
Speaking during the panel discussion, the participants condemned the indiscriminate felling of trees and called for a reduction in carbon emission, and planting of at least 100 trees per community in the state by the community and local government peace architectures (CPAs and LPAs).
Other participants appreciated Search and its partners for facilitating the multi-stakeholder dialogue, urging them to also consider a high-level sensitization in the rural communities and collaboration with the Ministry of Environment to have a larger session.
They brought together diverse perspectives, and the dialogue sought to build consensus and identify pathways for effective carbon offset strategies that will benefit both the people and the environment.
Among the recommendations made by the study are that the government should strengthen national-to-subnational policy integration and develop subnational carbon market regulations.
ii Mainstream climate justice in legislation, operationalisation of the carbon market activation policy, etc.
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