The discovery of the black gold in Oloibiri, in 1956 was a celebrated achievement; however, it has caused more pains, sorrows, and angst in the region than joy.
The Niger Delta region referred to as the goose that lays the golden eggs for the nation has continued to suffer the greatest of environmental degradation and pollution which is a sharp contrast to the centre which was developed from the resources derived from the former. One only needs to take a boat ride in the coastal towns of Warri and Port Harcourt to fully comprehend the extent of the mess the region has been reduced to, yet there are no concerted efforts to fix this anomaly except cheap political statements, just to sound relevant and create false hope amongst a people deprived and exempted from dividends of the seemingly blessed resource, crude oil.
Standard environmental measures of controlling and cleaning spillages are recklessly ignored by the exploration companies while the appropriate government agencies, whose duties are to raise the red flag when these occur are overtime compromised.
The unending gas flaring experienced in the region, which if harnessed can lead to a surge in the nation’s GDP has increased the rate of carcinogenic diseases as a result of polycyclic aromatic compounds being continually released into the atmosphere.
Another effect of this is the change in the climatic conditions leading to flooding as a result of disruption of the ozone layer not to mention the killer soot that has dominated the atmosphere in Rivers as a result of crude means of refining employed by hapless youths. Nigeria is a signatory to the Paris Agreement On Climate Change, committed to reducing Green House Emissions and taking climate actions towards Sustainable Development.
The ministry of Niger Delta was set to cater for the region, so likewise the Niger Delta Development Commission after the struggles of notable activists like Ken Saro-Wiwa and Isaac Boro whose prefixes now start with the word “late” because their outcry on the neglect of the region was considered a threat and affront to the government.
Such passionate persons who genuinely lived their lives to better the lots of the people in the region are rather rare to come by in these trying times. These kinds of passionate and goal-oriented individuals are meant to head these portfolios but no, the centre must handpick their stooges and cronies who are at their beck and call which implies that the clamour for restructuring is a potent way to break this jinx bedevilling not only the Niger Delta but the nation at large.
The UNEP report on the environmental degradation of the region perpetuated by the Anglo-Dutch company, Shell and compelling them to clean up Ogoni, was unfortunately ignored by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
He is from the Niger Delta and was in the best position to implement the report, but did not, and will forever be his albatross. However, the present administration that has generated much publicity on the report should march their words with further action and ensure that justice and equity are meted out to the region.
The Senator representing Rivers South East in the person of Senator Magnus Ngei Abe who coincidentally hails from Ogoni Community and member of the ruling party should take note that, just in the same vein, that history is not on the side of the former president, so also will he be adjudged upon the expiration of his term.
Except of course he chooses to do things differently by standing in the ranks of activists like Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna central senatorial district (APC) who has never ceased to champion the issues of his senatorial district not caring whose ox is gored.
All the relevant stakeholders from the Niger Delta from Governors to Ministers, down to legislators are admonished, for the sake of posterity to keep their selfish, personal, and political differences aside and collectively champion the united cause of a cleaner and safer Niger Delta.
