
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa state has made spoken against environmental degradation and the impact of climate change on communities in the Niger Delta at the ongoing United Nations Summit at The Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.
The governor advocates sanctions on polluters of the environment and funds to compensate communities negatively affected by climate change in the region.
Diri stated this in his keynote address on the first day of a four-day maiden DeltasUnite Summit of the United Nations Convention on Conserving of River Deltas (UNCCRD) , he said there was need for joint action by the international community to protect the world’s Deltas due to climate-induced environmental changes.
He disclosed that coastal communities in Bayelsa State and the entire Niger Delta region of Nigeria were increasingly threatened by coastal erosion, oil pollution and environmental degradation.
The Chairman of the UNCCRD Governance Committee, Diri stated that the time to act is now in order to arrest the devastating impacts of climate change and the threats to the world’s Deltas.
“Whereas, there may be diverse factors affecting the wellbeing and sustainability of the various Deltas across the world, the commonality of our predicament prescribes a joint action. There is no doubt that river Deltas worldwide are under threat. But for us in the Niger Delta and Bayelsa, in particular, this is a dire matter of life and death. Over a half century of oil exploration has left a legacy of pollution that not only scars our environment, destroying our Deltas, but also rob our people of their dignity and well-being.” Governor Diri stated.
The governor lamented that the extent of devastations was grossly under-reported or ignored, he recalled a major oil spill incident on November 1, 2021 in Bayelsa State:
“The oil well was previously operated by Shell and was acquired by an indigenous oil firm, AITEO. The spillage of crude and associated gas lasted for over 38 days from two points into the creeks and the Santa Barbara River, which serves more than 50 fishing communities in Nembe.
“It took a long time after my intervention and that of the state government before the spill could be controlled. The reason is not far-fetched. As a state government, the laws of our country governing our oil resources are so lopsided that we lack the constitutional requirements to address such oil spill.” He stated.
He recalled that in 2018, the Bayelsa state government had set up the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission, which conducted a scientific study detailed in its report, ‘An Environmental Genocide: Counting the Environmental Cost of Oil in Bayelsa State:’
“The report of the commission, which was started by my predecessor and completed by me, lays bare the catastrophic impact of oil and gas exploration on our communities and habitats. The findings are deeply concerning as it states: ‘The rate of child mortality is skyrocketing, and life expectancy is plummeting; 16,000 infant deaths in 2012 and 97% of affected communities facing food insecurity. Additionally, 40% of our precious mangrove forest has been lost due to these spills, pushing us to the very brink of environmental genocide.’’ He said while noting that coastal communities in the state on the banks of the Atlantic Ocean were facing threats from coastal erosion, ocean surge and salt-water encroachment from rising high-sea levels.
Some of the communities affected are to Agge, Orobiri, Bilabiri, Amatu, and Aghoro in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Ezetu, Foropa, Koluama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area as well as in Odioama, Okpoama, Akassa, Twon-Brass, Sangana, among others, in Brass Local Government Area.
“So, we need urgent and collective assistance to dredge our water courses and erect shore protection, to address the climate crises and protect our most vulnerable communities as the very survival of our people now hangs in the balance.” He continued.
He lauded the United Nations through its former Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Matthias Schmale for the assistance to the state during the devastating 2022 floods.
To Diri, the UN approval of the UNCCRD at COP28 in Dubai in 2023 is:
“a watershed opportunity in our fight to halt the unrelenting assault on our Deltas. The danger is clear and present. Today, I urge this assembly to forge a Global Deltas Action Plan (GDAP) based on three fundamental pillars, which include empowering local communities with decision-making initiatives over climate adaptation policies affecting their lives, investing in nature-based solutions – restoring mangroves, reinforcing riverbanks, and implementing regenerative agriculture.” Diri concluded."
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