By Henry Uche
The Human & Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called on Nigerians to restrain from imprudent actions and inactions capable of destroying the environment the more.
HEDA’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Suleiman Arigbabu made this ahead of November’s African Climate Carnival, popularly known as, COP27, holding  in Egypt.
HEDA had organized a two-day sensitization program in Lagos for environmental experts, civil society groups, the Media, etc to brainstorm on the Climate Change and what Nigeria should demand from world leaders, as a just division, fair sharing and even distribution of benefits / burdens of the ugly development and responsibilities to deal with it, generally known as Climate Justice.
With the theme of the Conference, “On The Road To Cop27” What is climate justice for Africa, Arigbabu who spoke on ‘Climate Justice Circle on the road to COP 27’, explained that the event was focused on creating awareness among Nigerians, that Climate Change really exists and that it is the responsibility of everyone to curtail the extreme weather, through actions and inactions.
He bemoaned that human activities aggravate the disaster arising from Climate Change, which he described as a global challenge and urged everyone to desist from actions capable of causing environmental hazards, such as dumping wastes into gutters and canals.
The environmental activist, also urged Nigerian leaders to ensure they make appreciate demands at the Egypt event. “We must restrain from actions which make the environment unconducive for human to live,” he warned.
Commenting on, ‘Climate Justice and Human Rights’, the Coordinator, Ogoni Solidarity Forum Nigeria, Mr. Celestine Akpo Bari, lamented the effects of oil activities in the Niger Delta over the years and the killing of Ken Sarowiwa, saying the region would not have been the way it is today, if the activist was alive. He explained that the region only inherits disaster arising from oil exploration, adding that the government has no plan for the people of the region.
Bari also averred that those who own oil wells in the oil rich region do not know the road to the place, adding that the blessings of the region has been turned into a course.
He wondered why the same terrain that is always conducive for oil companies to carry out their activities is never good for road construction and provision of other social amenities. “It’s unfortunate, God’s blessings have turned to source of sorrows to the host communities and the government don’t care,” she lamented.
On her part, the Founder / Executive Director, Greenskill Centre, Mrs Saidat Shonoiko, acknowledged possible food scarcity as a result of the flood that ravaged the country, destroying crops and animals, but expressed optimism that Nigeria would pull through. Her words: “Nigerians are very resilient people. We will surely come out of it”
She however emphasized the need for Nigerians to start farming, collectively and individually and urged youths to join in the efforts towards ensuring food security in the country by queueing into the noble profession, farming, instead of engaging in unproductive activities.
Represented by the trio of Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disability, Mr. David Anaele, General Manager, Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs, Dare Dairo, and Director General, Human and Organizational Development Resource Centre, Dr.Adebukola Adebayo, people living with disabilities, who discussed Climate Change and Social Inclusion, sought for inclusiveness in government policies, including the up coming Climate Justice campaign, saying their inclusion is for the benefit of all.
HEDA Resource Centre organized the event in collaboration with Oxfam in Nigeria and Pan African Climate Justice Alliance. It was supported by Power of Voices Partnership _ African Activities for Climate Justice.
Pix: Some activists & friends of the environment at the season.