By: Felix Ikpotor
The Ogonis are said to be at the forefront of the crisis of climate change and environmental degradation.
Legborsi Pyagbara, the executive director of African Indigenous Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development (AIFES), made the declaration in Port Harcourt during the presentation of the report on community led research on ‘Loss and Damage’ in Ogoni.
Pyagbara said: “For generations, the people of Ogoni lived in a friendly environment and relied on fishing and farming for their livelihood. But today, the situation has changed; our way of life is no longer how it used to be.
”We are on the frontline of unprecedented dual crisis; the long standing environmental degradation of our land as a result of oil exploitation and secondly, the escalating global threat of climate change, which has brought with it more hot weather for and floods.
”In Rivers State, in our various communities, we have seen rivers rise, we have seen heatwave and rising temperature around us. More visible is the unpredictable rainfalls and in this part of the world, when we cannot predict when rain falls, it affects our agriculture and that has a long implication on food scarcity.
”These has made most of communities vulnerable and they are struggling to adapt to these changes.”
In his remarks, deputy speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Dumle Maol, commended the people of Ogoni for standing firm in defence of their collective heritage, despite decades of environmental challenges.
Maol said: “I seize this opportunity to salute the courage of the Ogoni people who despite decades of environmental challenges continue to stand firm in defence of our collective heritage.
”It is a common knowledge that threat of climate change is no longer a debate, it is here with us and Ogoni bears it’s scars.”
He also commended those behind the research that led to the ‘Loss and Damage’ report, for painstakingly documenting the realities of climate change in Ogoniland.
”I commended the researchers who have painstakingly documented the realities of ‘loss and damage’ of climate change in Ogoniland. I must confess that your work is the voice of the silent sufferings of our land, rivers and people.
”But, more importantly, it is an inspiration to those of us that are into lawmaking legislative intervention for the wellbeing of our people,” Maol said.
On his part, chairman of Khana LGA, Dr. Bariere Thomas called for partnerdhip between NGOs and multinationals operating in Ogoniland in ensuring greater security of all critical national assets in the area to minimize cases of damage which leads to pollution.
He expressed his readiness to support every action aimed at addressing environmental issues in Ogoniland.
”It is our expectations that companies operating in the area, NGOs make themselves available for partnership, that way the government at the local level will be intune with whatever activities they are carrying out. Sameway, the locals will be integrated into their security frameworks so much so that these facilities will be secured, ” Thomas said.
Thomas also urged NGOs to assist government in accessing the loss and damage funds.
”We are aware that the United Nations have made provisions for loss and damage. Therefore, NGOs who have the understanding of how government at various levels can access these funds should assist through advocacy and advice so that government can key into all of this openings. And of course, we are available and ready to support every effort in addressing environmental issues in Ogoniland, ” he added.
