…Decries Gas Flaring, oil spillage, environmental degradation in Niger Delta
By Our Correspondent
Port Harcourt, Nigeria – The Executive Director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Reverend David Ugolor, has said that the organization would build a movement around climate justice issues and support host communities to amplify their issues to the world.
The rights Activist made this known on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in his welcome address at a two-day workshop on Climate Crisis And Energy Transition, organized by the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ).
Rev. David Ugolor said that the workshop has been designed to enhance the knowledge of participants, including Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), journalists and community representatives on emerging issues in the global climate change trend and energy transition.
According to him:” We want to build a movement around climate justice issues and support host communities to amplify their issues to the world. Issues around the payment of loss and damages to host communities by the big polluters are gradually gaining ground around the world.
‘It was a major discussion item for discussion at the just concluded COP27 held in Egypt. We expect you, going forward to join our struggle to get Shell and other oil companies to take responsibility for the environmental degradation in the Niger Delta.
“We are reaching out to their shareholders to get companies to review their strategies to align with Paris Agreement. We also want you to know that we can collectively target engagement with shareholders of oil companies to achieve the desired result”.
Rev. Ugolor, a front line civil society activist in Nigeria, who was represented at the event, by Comrade Igbotako Nowinta, (Board member of ANEEJ), in decrying gas flaring and other atrocious activities, declared thus:
“Here in the region, we are faced with gas flaring, oil spillage, environmental degredation and pollution or contamination of the land, water and air, loss of livelihood, health challenges and other negative effects.
“Unfortunately, the oil and gas companies are more interested in making profit at our detriment, despite global agreements on emission reduction. As we speak, Shell declared a profit of 32.3bn Pounds (39.9$bn) for 2022, the highest profit in their history of about 115 years and paid out $6.3bn to it’s shareholders in the final 3 months of 2022, Exxon Mobil announced a profit of nearly $56bn, Chevron about $36.5bn.
“All these are happening while the people of the Niger Delta are living in misery and poverty. Reports show how quickly the world needs to move away from fossil fuels. These are indications that the 1.5°C target in the Paris climate pact is already extremely hard to reach. Goal 13 of the 2030 Agenda emphasizes the need for urgent global actions to tackle climate change.”
In May 2022, ANEEJ organized THE PEOPLE’S AGM in Lagos, to discuss issues around the activities of multi-national oil companies ahead of their AGM.
The people’s AGM was attended by the people of the Niger Delta region and environmental activists from different parts of Nigeria, comprising heads and leaders of NGOs, CBOs, Faith based Organisations, Representatives of Host Oil and Gas Communities, Human Rights groups, youths, students, artisans and media practitioners.
The African Network for Environment & Economic Justice, with corporate headquarters in Abuja and Benin City, is one of the globally recognized organizations pushing vigorously for the climate change issues.
