Gas Flaring: Stakeholders Advocate Stricter Punishment against Erring Oil Companies

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Stakeholders at a one-day roundtable on the negative impact of the activities of oil companies in the Niger Delta have called for strict enforcement of punitive measures against oil companies indulging in gas flaring.

The meeting, held yesterday in Asaba, was organised by ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), a non-governmental organisation working to check environmental challenges in the Niger Delta region.

Participants at the meeting, which was attended by civil society organisations (CSO), representatives of host communities and government officials as well as the media, brainstormed on several nagging issues around climate change and environmental degradation.

In a communique at the end of the meeting, participants observed with dismay the negative implications of Western banks funding the activities of multi-national oil companies for oil exploration in the Niger Delta thus exacerbating the incidence of environmental degradation in the region. 

They noted that community leaders were largely compromised due to poverty as resulting from the divide-and-rule strategy adopted by the multi-national oil companies in their dealings with their host communities.

The communiqué read in part, “The Shell Livewire Programme has compromised community leaders’ integrity by the divide and rule strategy and this is a great disservice to the development of the communities.

“Also, lack of political will on the part of our leaders to implement relevant laws has impeded the fight against abnormalities associated with oil explorations in the Niger Delta.

“Emphasis here is on gas flaring, while there is the waste from the water channels and also the issue of deforestation, regrettably, existing policies on climate and environmental change are not implemented,”, the communique stated.

“The participants however made recommendations for the enforcement of already existing policies in relation to the impact of gas flaring in the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.

“They called for proper cleanup of the areas affected by the effect of the oil spillages in the Niger Delta while fostering a good operational relationship that is open to all stakeholders. 

“The stakeholders called for mapping out ways for the transition from Fossil fuel to renewable energy, stressing that multi-national companies must as a necessity have a carbon gas desk.

“They also recommended that host communities and individuals affected by oil exploration should have an understanding of the PIA and called on the National Assembly House Committee on Climate change to establish a desk office with the host communities for ease of complaints.”

Furthermore, the meeting called on the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to establish a local committee for the coalition of host community complaints and a review of existing policies on climate and environmental change. 

Participants at the meeting also advised that the Nigerian Government should be given conditions before accessing global funds for environmental issues.  

They stressed the need to facilitate continuing conversation among key stakeholders concerning communities impacted by the oil exploration in the Niger Delta communities.

“Emphasising the importance of strong synergy in the fight for climate and Environment Justice in the Niger Delta area, host communities should start taking advantage of the laws guiding multi-nationals to start using them to their advantage”, it further said.

The communiqué was signed and endorsed by Mr. Andrew Mamedu, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Ms Sonia  Somuvie, a Representative of the Vice-Chairman, the Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Ned Nwoko. Dr. Chidi Nwankpa, Representative of the chairman, House Committee on Climate Change, Sunday Cyriacus Umeha, Representative of the Chairman House Committee on Niger Delta. 

Highpoint of the roundtable was a visual compilation on the negative impact of exploration activities of the major oil companies in Nigeria, presented by ActionAid Nigeria, led by its Country Representative in Nigeria.

Other signatories listed include David Kenoye Eze, Clerk of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Ministry, Oyorokoto Ogheneruemu, Frank Tietie, Executive Director, Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER) Abuja.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, a community woman leader, Mrs Fynegirl Omonade, narrated the harrowing experiences of residents in her oil-bearing community of Erobaro-Orogun, in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

“For over 25 years now, our people have suffered untold hardship and trauma as a result of excessive gas flaring by the oil companies operating in Erobaro-Orogun. Our rivers, which serve as our source of drinking water are polluted. Our fishing ponds have been destroyed; and so also our farms, due to gas emissions.

“We have complained over the years, but nothing has been done to mitigate our suffering. The oil companies have been making empty promises to us to date,” she lamented.