By: Felix Ikpotor
As a result the unending pollution of Ogoniland by oil mining activities of the Nigerian government and multi-national oil companies which has led to severe hardship on the people, an environmental rights group, Lekeh Development Foundation has called on the government to stop all forms of oil mining in the area.
Executive Director of Lekeh Development Foundation, Friday Nbani Barilule, during a road walk to mark the 31st Anniversary of the Ogoni Day in Bori, traditional headquarters of the Ogoni people in Rivers State, said several years of oil extraction in the area has done a lot of damage to the area and the Niger Delta region.
He said agriculture has been rendered redundant because of pollution while life expectancy has also fallen.
The group also demanded an end to fossil fuel in the Niger Delta region.
“As an organisation that is focused on climate justice, livelihoods supports and human right, we are using this medium to demand the phasing out of fossil fuels in Niger Delta region.
“We are asking that there should not be funding for fossil fuels anymore.
“We demand that Ogoni oil should be left in the ground. Ogoni oil should be left in the ground because in those days our fathers and mothers can cultivate tangible cassava from a small portion of land for survival and the income from fishing was also tangible but today it is difficult to get income from agriculture in Ogoniland and that’s why we are demanding that Ogoni oil should be left in the ground,” he said.
He urged the government to transit to renewable energy which is more friendly to the environment
“The continuous gas flaring and oil spill in the area is unbearable as oil companies and the government seems not to care that people are living in those areas.
“Countries like United Kingdom will soon stop depending on fossil fuels but about eighty percent of Nigeria’s revenue is from fossil fuel generation and we say enough is enough, it’s time to transit from fossil fuel to renewable energy which is friendly to the environment and human health.
“Again, if you research, you would see that Ogoni region and the Niger Delta is one of the most polluted region in the world and also, the life expectancy of the region has reduced to forty one years which is different from life expectancy in other parts of Nigeria and other countries,” he added.
He pointed out that what led to the hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the eight other Ogonis has not been totally achieved even though he admitted little success.
“What our leaders died for is still in the struggle as it has not been totally achieved but for the fact that we have a voice now, we have little success but that of environmental justice is what we are still pushing and I believe with the younger generation, we can get it peacefully,” Nbani stated.
