SERAP: Recognise the Right of the Niger Delta People 

Steve Aya

The need for the Federal Government and other key players, to recognise the right of the people in the Niger Delta to a clean and healthy environment has again been stressed. Towards this end, the Government has been urged to put in place a legal framework to ensure that oil and gas companies and other key players recognise the right of the people in the Niger Delta and Nigerians in general.These suggestions were part of the recommendations made by a Lecturer in the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Bunmi Afinowi during the public presentation of Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) Report titled “We Are All Vulnerable. How Lack of Transparency and Accountability Is Fuelling Human Rights Violations in the Niger Delta”, which took place at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

Dr Afinowi stated that having a proper legal framework in place has become necessary, in order to ensure that when violations occur against the rights of the people of the area, individuals, communities, Chief Security Officers (CSOs) can seek redress in the courts, at both local and  international courts. She lamented that the state of the region is constantly a paradox of circumstances, noting that despite the wealth it holds and the fact that it provides for the entire Nation, it remains deeply in the grips of squalor, poverty, and environmental degradation.

However, Dr Afinowi maintained that there is no reason why the Niger Delta region which produces the resources upon which the country is dependent should wallow in poverty, while the rights of the people in the area are violated by oil and gas companies.

Part of the SERAP Report recommendation include, periodic engagements with legal and environmental experts, policy makers to review and strengthen existing laws, regulations and policies related to the oil and gas sector, in terms of resource management and extractive activities. It urged the Federal Government to also create a platform or avenue for sharing information related to oil and gas activities, revenue distribution, and environmental impact assessments with local communities.

“There is need to also develop and distribute educational materials, to raise awareness about the industry’s effects on communities and the importance of transparency”, Dr Afinowi said.

In a welcome address, SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, remarked that the country is definitely poor with some 122 million Nigerians living in poverty. Corruption has been the major contributory factor in making Nigeria one of the poorest Nations in the world. He said trillions from oil resources impoverished Nigerians, as they end in private pockets.

The assumption of office of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has raised the question of whether his administration can demonstrate the political will to fight corruption by going after the big fish in government circles, ministries, departments and agencies, guarantee freedom of expression, and uphold the rule of law. It is also about whether his administration can commit this democracy to the poor people of Nigeria, and not for the few privileged political class.

President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba, in a good will message, said that there was need to ensure that resources from the Niger  Delta region are used to develop the area. He stressed the need for transparency and accountability in Government at all levels, saying this should be used to promote good governance, civic participation and respect for the rule of law.

Anaba said the media has a laudable role to play to achieve this objective.

“Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended, states the roles that members of the profession are expected to play in contributing to the efforts in promoting transparency and accountability in Niger Delta in particular.”

Others who spoke at the event included the Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reform, Dr Dasuki Arabi, and Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, who represented the Rivers State Governor, Sinminalayi Fubara.