A prominent Niger Delta environmentalist, Chief Sheriff Mulade has decried the pollution and degradation of the Niger Delta environment through gas flaring and other crude oil activities.
Mulade, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, a foremost non-governmental organisation advocating for environmental sustainability, stressed the need for the remediation of the environment noted that the Niger Delta has contributed immensely to Nigeria’s wealth as a result of the enormous oil production activities in the region.
He lamented that despite the high oil production in states such as Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Cross Rivers, oil pollution and reduced life span are the prices that the oil-rich region has continued to suffer for feeding the nation.
Chief Mulade, who is also the Ibe-Seremowei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, noted that the Nigerian economy is heavily dependent on the oil sector, accounting for about 95% of the export earnings, and 40% of government revenue, according to the International Monetary Fund, IMF.
He said, “It is no more news that the exploration and exploitation activities of oil companies in the region have degraded and devastated the environment at an alarming rate, so much so that life expectancy in the Niger Deltan Region has been reduced due to health hazards from the polluted environment.”
“Oil pollution has destroyed the environment and the traditional occupation of the people, leading to high rates of poverty unemployment, criminality and violence in the Niger Delta Region.
“This morbid situation has been worsened by the poor environmental practices of the IOCs, (international oil companies) and the failure of Government Agencies to hold them accountable.”
The environmentalist asserted that some people in the region have resorted to self-help by engaging in pipeline vandalism, illegal refining of crude oil, illegal oil bunkering, destruction of forests, militancy and other forms of violence as a result of perennial environmental pollution and degradation.
He warned the International Oil Companies (IOCs) to adhere strictly to environmental sustainability practices.
Mulade also urged the locals in the region to stop all acts of violence and vandalism, which adds to the pollution of the environment but, see the Niger Delta as their economic base that must be protected at all times.
