Degradation 
Mr. Nwafo
By Chima Nwafo
ON Friday March 15, 2019 students from over 20 countries abandoned their classroom for a walk-out to protest what they perceived as political leaders uncaring attitude towards protection of the environment, given the worsening impact of climate change being experienced in many parts of the developed world. Before then, as captured in our last installment, there have been several other student protests in various parts of Europe. The youth protest is the initiative of a 16-year-old Swedish girl. In that last orbit, the Nigerian youth, especially the Niger Delta students, were asked if they really care or feel any concern about the safety of their environment. Maybe, some do, but ‘silence is golden.’
While still expecting the youth to express their concern over the future of our environment where they will spend the rest of their lives, the action Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon Henry Seriake Dickson actualised an Igbo proverb which translates thus: An elder should not sit at home and watch the goat deliver on tether. He did this on Wednesday last week, when at the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre in Yenagoa, he launched the Rise For Bayelsa Campaign: an initiative to attract global attention to the ravaging effects of oil spills, pollution and environmental degradation in the state.
According to media reports, he was however unsparing of the international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the state and Niger Delta in general.
His words: “They are not only polluting our land, creeks, waterways and communities. They are also taking their terrorist and criminal activities to yet another frightening level.
“So when we talk about environmental terrorism perpetrated, funded, encouraged by international oil corporations (IOCs), come to Bayelsa and see a classic case. The launch of the Rise foe Bayelsa Campaign would herald the beginning of a long crusade by my government as a fulfillment of the commitment made on the last World Environmental Day, to shift attention from education and infrastructure deficit to the scourge of environmental terrorism.”
Expatiating on the governor’s message, His Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr Daniel Alabrah, narrowed down on a particular multinational oil giant operating in the state: “All these cases of killings during elections, people terrorising Southern Ijaw, killing people and even affecting our democratic practices are funded by Agip in the guise of crude oil pipeline surveillance contractors. They have been killing, maiming and terrorising people in Nembe, Bassambiri…Agip is not interested in the stability and safety of our communities. This is how far they have escalated their terrorist activities. So when we talk of environmental terrorism perpetrated, funded and encouraged by IOCs, you come to Bayelsa and you see a classic case.”
In News Express, which gave a detailed coverage of the campaign, Dickson said the short documentary aired during the launch was a true reflection of the hardship the people of Bayelsa and the entire Niger Delta have been experiencing for over 60 years at the hands of a Federal Government that does not care about the wellbeing, welfare and survival of the people of the region beyond the oil. “He chastised the Federal Government for its failure to enforce environmental and safety standards, as well as regulations on the oil companies operating in the region.”
“This has gone from that to terrorism against our poor, oppressed people who are left alone at the mercy of organised cartels and international oil companies. If you look at their practices and activities in this country, in this state and in the Niger Delta, they are carrying on as criminal gangs with their collaborators. Some local, some foreign,” he said while urging Bayelsans at home and in the Diaspora to support the campaign
“This has gone from that to terrorism against our poor, oppressed people who are left alone at the mercy of organised cartels and international oil companies. If you look at their practices and activities in this country, in this state and in the Niger Delta, they are carrying on as criminal gangs with their collaborators: some local, some foreign.”
Equally captured in the all-important campaign, which is in sync with the objectives of Environmental Orbit, were the contribution of Bayelsa State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Ebipatei Apaingolo, who said said the activities of IOCs have had colossal negative effects on the environment and the commonwealth of the people of Bayelsa, who are mainly farmers and fishermen.
Apaingolo, stated that it is largely a corollary of incessant oil spills and gas flaring without any form of environmental remediation or payment of adequate compensation to affected communities, stressing that despite the outcome of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, it is unfortunate that oil companies still flare gas in Bayelsa and the Niger Delta region.
“Studies have shown that about 13 million barrels of crude oil have been spilled in the Niger Delta since the 1950s. For example, the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment recorded over 3,000 spills from Agip facilities between 2012 and 2018. Oil spills have contaminated rivers and streams, the air, plants; while farm produce in the Niger Delta are no longer consumable as elements of carcinogenic hydrocarbon are found in tuber crops.”
As if reacting to our last week’s challenge on youths/students, Governor Dickson made a special appeal to every segment of the Bayelsa demographics, especially the ICT-compliant youths of the state, to use the Internet to portray the Bayelsa story, so as to conscientise the Nigerian authorities and the world at large towards eliciting support and understanding of the life-threatening condition forced on the populace of the region.
Given that the foregoing disclosures resonates the ideals of the column, as seen in our past editions, it was considered important to flow with this noble campaign launched by the Bayelsa State Governor. It is commendable, noteworthy and proactive given that there nine states that make up the oil-producing cartel. Despite the fact that some states gain from the continental shelf, oil pollution and gas flare threatens both land and marine life. So, Bayelsa is by no means a peculiar situation. Hence, we say kudos to an environmentally active governor.
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