EDEN officials during the retreat.
.Expresses worry over mines collapse
EDEN: While we applaud the efforts of Hon. Babajimi Benson in pushing through this Bill, we find it very curious that the call for ending of gas flaring is coming from a non-Niger Deltan while the supposed representatives of the Niger Delta communities who are in the hallowed chambers still prevaricate on matters of pollution that their people suffer every day
By Valentine Amanze
Nigeria-based Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), an environment protection non-governmental group, has backed the proposed bill in the National Assembly to ban gas flaring in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.
It also advocated for a total end to growing number of mine collapse incidents and the environmental crisis in communities where the nation is exploring lithium and other solid minerals, among others.
EDEN made the appeal during its inaugural retreat in Benin, the Edo State capital on December 9 and 10, 2024.
In a statement signed by the Chairman, Chima Williams; and the Secretary, Philip Jakpor, EDEN said that the ban was necessary to end mine collapse incidents, which have claimed many lives in the country.
“We find it heart-warming to learn that the Anti-Gas Flaring (Prohibition and Enforcement) bill, which seeks to prohibit the flaring and venting of natural gas, except in strictly regulated circumstances, has passed second reading at the House of Representatives.
“The Bill, sponsored by Hon Babajimi Benson, seeks to also encourage the utilisation of gas resources to foster economic growth and energy generation.
“The lawmaker had argued on 5 December 2024 on the floor of the Assembly that the proposed law will mitigate the environmental, health, and economic impacts of gas flaring and will align Nigeria’s oil and gas operations with our international climate change commitments,” it stated.
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EDEN also hailed the bill for representing the true yearnings of Niger Delta communities that had been experiencing gas flares along with its implications such as unmitigated release of greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change, acid rain, and soot pollution, among others, for decades.
“Gas flaring in the Niger Delta region has equally led to public health issues as natives of host communities where the gas flare stacks are sited suffer respiratory illnesses, severe itching and other ailments that have evolved over time and contribute to the declining life expectancy in the region,” EDEN lamented.
Besides, EDEN condemned the oil industry for setting ablaze of oil spill impacted environment instead of proper clean-up and remediation as is the standard practice globally.
“While we applaud the efforts of Hon. Babajimi Benson in pushing through this Bill, we find it very curious that the call for ending of gas flaring is coming from a non-Niger Deltan while the supposed representatives of the Niger Delta communities who are in the hallowed chambers still prevaricate on matters of pollution that their people suffer every day.
“We anticipate that this initiative will wake them from their stupor and compel them to advocate, initiate and support laws that will guarantee the well-being of Niger Delta communities that host oil and gas projects,” it stated.
On the lingering oil pollution in the Niger Delta, EDEN insisted that no oil corporation should be allowed to divest from the region until it takes responsibility for its toxic legacy of pollution.
“They must also decommission abandoned oil infrastructure.
“In similar vein, buyers of the toxic assets of the divesting firms must be compelled to accept the liabilities of the former owners of the onshore operations,” it stated.
EDEN pledged its readiness to give legal support to communities that are against divestment without clean-up, remediation and compensation.
On solid mineral, EDEN lamented that in the last six months there had been about three major incidents including the Shiroro mine collapse in Niger State which claimed about 50 lives in June 2024, the Adamawa pit collapse, which claimed 30 lives and the more recent incident in Plateau State where 13 young persons died.
It warned that the quest to expand the nation’s revenue base through solid minerals extraction would inflict fresh wounds in the communities.
“We have observed the impact of mining in Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Zamfara and a host of other states especially, in the north where illegal mining activities have not only ruined their environment, but also their livelihoods and major sources of water for domestic use.
“The influx of foreign mining firms especially those run by Chinese nationals, is particularly worrying as their largely unmonitored activities have opened the path for insecurity and strife in host communities as well as growing cases of child sex trafficking and minors working in mining pits,” it said.
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