Ministry of Gas Resources, Marine and Blue Economy, Threat to Our Environment, Says HOMEF

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey, has stated that the new Gas Resources, Marine and Blue Economy Ministries, are threats to the Nigerian environment.

The renowned environmentalist expressed doubt on the future of the Nigerian environment, people, and economy with the president as Minister of the twin petroleum ministries, and with the creation of a Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

He said the three ministries will pose unique problems for the aquatic ecosystems and will worsen the plight of communities whose interests are once more set to be sacrificed.

According to Bassey, the title Marine and Blue Economy is tautological as the Blue Economy is practicable only in marine or aquatic ecosystems.

He said: “The government may wish to rename the unit as Ministry of Marine Resources. The concept of Blue Economy, like the Green Economy, is aimed at massive exploitation and commodification of nature with deleterious consequences.

“Developing the marine and blue economy sectors will lead to industrial fishing, pollution, habitat destruction, marine biotechnology, deep sea mining and other activities that are ecologically harmful. With a hugely unpoliced continental shelf this focus will pose special threats to our communities and others in the entire Gulf of Guinea.”

The HOMEF boss also expressed believes that by prioritising gas, other renewable energy sources will be neglected.

He said: “This lack of diversification will hinder a country’s ability to adapt to future energy demands. It portends continuous disruption of our ecosystems with attendant health and safety risks. At a time when health and environmental audits should be conducted in the oil field communities, the government is poised to ramp up the horrors.

“It should also be noted that our inland water, coastal and marine environment has been subjected to violent exploitation that has led to the degradation that the environment suffer from; creating this ministry will lead to the intensification of such violet exploitation.

Most adjacent communities and coastal communities where exploitation is taking place, there’s no portable water there as a result of pollution. This ministry will legalise such pollution. Artisanal fishing will be no more as well.”

Bassey further noted the need for government to carefully consider the potential repercussions when setting priorities for energy policies, stressing that “finding the right balance between economic interests, environmental health, and social well-being is crucial.”

 He expressed shock that the environment has no minister. “Not appointing a minister for environment sends a signal to Nigerians about the concern of the president to a sector that is so fundamental to their survival.”

Bassey said the Ministry of Gas will inexorably discourage the development of cleaner and more sustainable energy alternatives.  “Creating a Ministry of Gas Resources would only give licence to the continuous gas emissions which are a major cause of climate change and attendant problems faced by our communities,” he said.