By Ofonime Honesty
The present state of the Akwa Ibom environment- especially the oil producing areas- is appalling. Quite an eyesore! Though natural phenomena like erosion, flood and climate change are major factors which adversely affect the environment, consequences of human activities like gas flaring and oil spillage have threatened an imminent collapse of our ecosystem.
The situation is worsened by the lack of commitment in rectifying the anomaly. This laissez-faire attitude has continued unabated despite rife outcry by the victims as well as relevant Environment Protection Laws. As contained in Section 20 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), government is empowered to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the water, air and land, forest and wildlife of Nigeria.
Futhermore, states in the federation also have laws aimed at safeguarding the environment. In Akwa Ibom State, the Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency Law established the Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency vested with the responsibilities of identifying and proffering solutions to environmental protection problems in Akwa Ibom, and monitoring and enforcing environmental protection standards and regulations.
While stakeholders, especially the transnational oil companies, have exhibited zero concern for the wellbeing of their operational domain and its inhabitants, the victims of these acts of degradation are left to their fate. This has led to countless litigations against the oil companies.
The effects of the negative activities of the oil companies include air pollution, water pollution, soil degradation, health risks such as cancer and respiratory ailments, loss of biodiversity (killing of plants/ animals in land and water) and depletion of the ozone layer. Scientists have warned that extinction is likely to be the long-term effect of environmental degradation.
The sensitivity of this issue calls for concern. I had firsthand experience of the damage done to the Akwa Ibom environment in early 2016, when I joined few colleagues on a fact finding mission to Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of the state.
Eastern Obolo, despite being the highest crude oil producer in Akwa Ibom State, is perhaps the most underdeveloped place in the state. It plays host to oil firms including Exxon Mobil, Shell Petroleum Development Company and Amni International Petroleum Development Company.
Crops planted on Eastern Obolo soil are diseased because the land is poisoned by oil activities. Their waters aren’t fit for consumption because of oil spillage. There are no development projects like roads, hospitals and electricity. Throughout our over six-hour tour of Eastern Obolo, our mobile phones barely had access to network.
The Chairman, Eastern Obolo Traditional Rulers’ Council, His Royal Highness, Job Job, revealed that of an estimated 4,000 oil spills in the Niger Delta region from 1956 to date, Eastern Obolo records 145 oil spills with 65 incidences not admitted to by the oil firms; as well as gas flaring, environmental degeneration and diseases.
He added that, “since the creation of Eastern Obolo in 1996, not even a kilometre of road has been constructed by the government.”
Continuing, the royal father decried that Eastern Obolo is the only core oil producing council area in Akwa Ibom whose indigene has not sat on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission since its establishment in 2000.
Eastern Obolo’s gory situation report is akin to the proverbial killing of the goose which lays the golden eggs. Similar scenarios are replicated throughout the state.
From the foregoing, urgent attention must be paid to the environmental degradation in Akwa Ibom which has reached unbearable level.
Paying lip service to the problem isn’t the solution. Firstly, the state government should realize that it has the Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency Law in its kitty. Enforcing the Law will compel the oil producing companies to respect our environment, and invariably respect us, the indigenes. Government must prove her supremacy in this issue.
To curtail future mishaps, no exploration of natural resources must be carried out without a foolproof Environmental Impact Assessment. An immediate halt to gas flaring and paying of compensation to victims must be carried out.
Recently, the Akwa Ibom State government dragged an oil services company, Globestar Engineering Nigeria Limited, to court over failure to pay whooping N65bn tax liabilities. Multinational companies must pay tax unfailingly. Corporate social responsibilities must also be made to be compulsory for such companies.
Akwa Ibom State Government must press ahead with the agitation for the relocation of headquarters of oil exploration companies to the state. Also, telecommunication companies should henceforth desist from installing telecommunication masts near residential areas because of the adverse health effects. On their part, Akwa Ibom people must sanitize their immediate environment to avoid contracting diseases which breed in dirty environments.
Akwa Ibom is ours! The time to act is now! Better late than never!
Honesty writes from Uyo