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Bayelsa Demands US$12 billion from IOCs for Environmental and Health Damages through Oil Exploration

Published

1 day ago

October 30, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Bayelsa Demands US$12 billion from IOCs for Environmental and Health Damages through Oil Exploration

By: Michael Mike

Bayelsa State Governor,Duoye Diri has demanded from international oil companies (IOCs) US$12 billion over the course of 12 years for the repair, remediation and restoration of the environment and public health damage caused by oil and gas exploration and to lay the foundations for Bayelsa’s just transition towards renewable energy and opportunities for alternative livelihoods.

The governor made the demand on Wednesday in Abuja at the International Oil Pollution and Just Transition Conference.

He lamented that: “Not too many decades ago, we could cast nets into abundant waters, reaping enough catch to nourish entire families. However, the oil boom has brought doom. Our lifeblood – our rivers – now flow with toxic oil residue instead of vibrant life.

“We are a people of the river and the land; fishing and farming were once our essence. These vocations, passed down through generations, taught us patience, respect for nature, and the value of hard work. But the unchecked activities of International Oil Companies (IOCs) have turned the prolific rivers and fertile soil of Bayelsa into a wasteland.”

He equally decried that: “Our breadwinners, robbed of their ancestral legacy, toil on unforgiving, polluted land and fish in toxic waters, only to return with empty nets. Their families face crippling hunger and suffocating despair.”

The governor, who revealed that he just received a report from the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission, titled “An Environmental Genocide: Counting the Human and Environmental Costs of Oil in Bayelsa, Nigeria,” said: “One study estimates that in 2012 alone, oil spills in Nigeria, and predominantly in the Niger Delta resulted in over 16,000 additional neonatal deaths.”

He stated that: “Indeed, Oil pollution and relentless gas flaring have engendered a grim tapestry of alien health conditions in Bayelsa; children are being born with severe deformities, respiratory diseases flourish, stubbornly defying even the most advanced medical interventions and therapies. Cancers, once a rarity have surged in prevalence, infiltrating the villages like a spectre that haunts the very fabric of daily life.

“The environment itself has become a crucible of suffering. The air hangs thick with toxins, while the water, once a source of life, now flows with pollutants that carry the weight of despair. This unrelenting barrage of environmental degradation has transformed Bayelsa into an epicentre of health crises, forging a reality where illness and suffering have become the norm rather than the exception.”

Diri said the report notes that as a direct consequence, “Life expectancy in Bayelsa has plummeted to just 50 years” sinking well below levels deemed acceptable by global standards, adding that: “Despite these burdens, we continue to demonstrate an indomitable spirit, navigating daily struggles with a painful resilience that belies our longing for a healthier and more hopeful future.

He noted that: “This Report therefore, has not only captured our plight, but it has also amplified our voice; a voice that has cried out for decades, unheard. For too long, we’ve pleaded for mercy, only to be met with indifference. Our children’s futures, our heritage, and our very existence hang in the balance. And today, I bring that voice before you.”

The governor said: “Let me echo a resounding call of the Commission to the IOCs that: “concerted international action to generate and invest at least US $12 billion over the course of 12 years to repair, remediate and restore the environmental and public health damage caused by oil and gas and to lay the foundations for Bayelsa’s just transition towards renewable energy and opportunities for alternative livelihoods, adding that: “This I believe is not limited to Bayelsa State alone, therefore, I call on my brother Governors from the oil producing states to join hands with us in this battle for environmental justice.”

In his welcome address , the Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey, said the conference comes at a pivotal moment in the socioecological history of Nigeria, noting that: “Extractivism and accompanied pollution has wreaked extensive damage in the physical, socioeconomic and cultural spheres of our national life. They have worked together to build a warped future, which must be deconstructed, and reconstructed.”

He revealed that: “The report highlighted the incredible extent of petroleum pollution in Bayelsa State and has given us a vivid picture of the extreme damage that almost seven decades of crude oil exploitation has done to the entire Niger Delta region particularly with regard to both environmental and human health. It is pure environmental genocide and there is no way to sugarcoat its horrors.”

He noted that: “The report is riddled with facts that are almost unimaginable. For example it tells us that there is a 1.5 barrels per capita crude oil pollution of Bayelsa State. It affirms an atrocious level of harm visited on the state including that there is the total hydrocarbons pollution of the water in the state at 1 million times above safe or acceptable standards. One million times above safe standards.

“We note that the pollution is from both old and active wells, flow stations and pipelines. Indeed, abandoned and decrepit oil infrastructure continue to pose extreme menace to the environment and the people of the State. Some communities have been ripped apart by canalization; while others face the threat of being washed into the ocean by combined forces of subsidence, sea level rise and coastal erosion.

“Our water channels are blatantly and recklessly used as waste dumps for produced water and sundry harmful wastesin disregard to ecological and human safety. Our lands and water bodies are privatized and damaged, through acts of egregious industrial vandalism and systemic environmental racism, emanating from the worst forms of colonial resource extraction and land grabbing.”

Bayelsa Demands US$12 billion from IOCs for Environmental and Health Damages through Oil Exploration

News

First Lady Remi Tinubu distributes food items to vulnerable groups in Ekiti

Published

11 hours ago

October 31, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

First Lady Remi Tinubu distributes food items to vulnerable groups in Ekiti

By Our Reporter

The Food Distribution program of the Renewed Hope Initiative under its Social Investment program is a monthly intervention strategy targeting the vulnerable groups in society.

The program, supported by a well-meaning industrialist, has provided assorted food items in a number of states across the nation.

Making the distribution at the Government House, Ado Ekiti, the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu informed the public that the RHI, in line with the objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, is working towards meeting the needs of the people.

Represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, told the gathering the program was launched in FCT Abuja and has covered some states already, impacting on the lives of people with disabilities, women, and the youth.

Hajiya Nana Shettima implores the beneficiaries not to divert the items to the market but to use them in their household.
The wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, while appreciating Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s support to the state in the areas of agriculture where farmers received farming implements, women empowerment, and scholarships for the youths, said the food intervention is timely. It will go a long way in helping the beneficiaries, considering their vulnerable nature.

There was a symbolic presentation and a traditional dance as the high point of the event.

First Lady Remi Tinubu distributes food items to vulnerable groups in Ekiti

News

Buni Proposes N320.8 billion Budget for 2025 in Yobe

Published

11 hours ago

October 31, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Buni Proposes N320.8 billion Budget for 2025 in Yobe

By: Michael Mike

Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni
has presented a proposed budget of N320.8 billion to the State House of Assembly for 2025 fiscal year.

The governor, while presenting the Appropriation Bill tagged: “Budget of Economic Consolidation and Poverty Reduction,” to the members of the assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Buba Chiroma-Mashio at the Yobe State House of Assembly complex in Damaturu on Thursday, said the sum of N144.04 billion representing 44.9% is proposed as recurrent expenditure, while the sum of N176.8 billionrepresenting 55.1% is allocated for capital expenditure.

Buni while highlighting the breakdown, said government would concentrate on four sectors, namely; Economic, Social, Administration, Law, Peace and Justice.

He said: “The economic sector would continue to play its pivotal role in our speedy growth and socio-economic development agenda for the state. A total sum of One Hundred and Fifty-six Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty-one Million, Eight Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Naira (N156,931,818,000) is allocated to cover capital and recurrent expenditure, while the social sector has been earmarked with a total sum of One Hundred and Eight Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty-nine Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-six Thousand Naira (N108,469,366,000) for the funding of both its capital and recurrent expenditure.

“Likewise, the administrative sector which consists of the Government House, House of Assembly, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Office of the Head of Service, Ministry of Home Affairs Information and Culture, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Ethical Re-orientation, State Independent Electoral Commission, Civil Service Commission, Local Government Service Commission, State and Local Government Auditors-General’s Offices, among others are to receive a proposed Fifty Billion, Six Hundred and Forty-four Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy-one Thousand Naira (N50,644,971,000), while Law, Peace and Justice will have a total sum of Four Billion, Seven Hundred and Sixty-four million, Eight Hundred and Forty-five Thousand Naira (N4,764,845,000) respectively.”

The Governor noted that the unfavourable exchange rate of Naira to the Dollar, and the unabated inflation rate have continued to negatively impact on execution levels of projects and programmes.

He however said: “In keeping with the well established tradition of linking our past and present with the future, l wish to give account of the major achievements recorded during the outgoing fiscal year before presenting the 2025 budget proposal.

“This Honourable House may recall that a total sum of Two-Hundred and Sixteen Billion, Nine-Hundred and Fifty Million Naira N216,950,000,000 was approved to finance both capital and recurrent expenditure for 2024 fiscal year.

” However, the actual revenue receipts from the Federation Account Allocation, Internally Generated Revenue and other sources including the State opening balance of accounts from January-September, 2024 stood at Two Hundred and Six Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety-six Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-three Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty-three Naira (N206,996,593,833) implying 95.4% of the approved budget.

“Out of the sum of One-Hundred and Seven Billion, Four-Hundred and Thirteen Million, Forty-two Thousand Naira (N107,413,042,000) earmarked for recurrent expenditure in the 2024 Budget, the actual amount expended was Eighty-five Billion, Six-Hundred and Ninety-two Million, Nine-Hundred and Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty Naira (N85,692,902,380) representing 79.8% success as at 30th September, 2024.

“The sum of One-Hundred and Nine Billion, Five-Hundred and Thirty-six Million, Nine-Hundred and Fifty-eight Thousand Naira (N109,536,958,000) was allocated for capital expenditure. However, the sum of Seventy-Nine Billion, Two-Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Four-Hundred and sixty-Two Thousand, Five-Hundred and Fifty-Four Naira (N79,256,462,554) was the actual expenditure indicating 72.4% success.

” The overall performance of the 2024 budget for both recurrent and capital expenditure was One-Hundred and Sixty-four Billion, Nine-Hundred and Forty-Nine Million, Three-Hundred and Sixty-four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty-four Naira (N164,949,364,934) indicating 76% success as of 30th September 2024. The volume of both the revenue and expenditure is expected to rise before the end of the year.”

He promised that: “Government would next year award contract for the remaining part of the Trans-Sahara road to complete linkage of the entire northern part of the state from Nguru-Kanamma. Similarly, Government would construct access roads to link all the political wards in the respective local government areas.

“Others are the construction of Garin Bingel-Danchuwa road which has been completed, the ongoing Bukarti-Toshiya, Fika-Maluri, and Danchuwa-Jajere, Kanamma Junction-Yusufari, Gujba-Ngalda, as well as the rehabilitation of Geidam-Bukarti, and Damaturu-Gujba roads. The amount also covers expenditure for the construction of the four Damaturu City Gates, township roads and drainages in Ten Local Government Council Headquarters across the state, as well as erosion control along Gadaka road, among others.”

Responding, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Buba Chiroma-Mashio promised to carefully study the budget for further legislative action with a view to give speedy passage into law.

He commended the governor for prudent management of the 2024 budget in completing ongoing projects such as roads and other critical infrastructures.

Buni Proposes N320.8 billion Budget for 2025 in Yobe

News

Sudan Appeals for International Support to End War

Published

11 hours ago

October 31, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Sudan Appeals for International Support to End War

By: Michael Mike

Sudan has sent an appeal to the international community to come to its aid to help end the war in the country, alleging that the rebel group was still in the war because it continues to receive support from some neighbouring countries.

Addressing a press conference on recent happenings in Sudan, the Charge d’ Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Sudan in Nigeria, Mr Ahmed Omer Jaboul lamented that his country is not receiving the desired support from the international community in the fight against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Jaboul alleged that the world was watching on while the RSF continued to wreak havoc in the country with the support of some countries which were providing the group with weapons and funds to prosecute the war.

He noted that: “No country is supporting Sudan in this war either by providing weapons or through funding. We produce our own weapons from our factories, we haven’t received any support from any country or organisation till now.”

On the other hand, the envoy said the paramilitary group had been receiving weapons and funding from many countries and international organisations.

He however warned that the crisis in the country could take a regional and global dimension if efforts are not made to nip it in the bud as soon as possible.

The envoy while referring to the killing of at least 124 people in a village in El Gezira State last Friday which activists said was one of the deadliest incidents of the war and the largest in a spate of attacks in the state, the Charge d’ Affaires said the RSF had always been waging a war against the people of Sudan.

Gezira has already faced a months-long siege in which residents told foreign journalists that the RSF looted homes, killed scores of civilians and displaced hundreds of thousands.

Al-Sireha village, in the north of the state, experienced the worst of recent violence when at least 124 were killed and 100 injured in the RSF raid, the Wad Madani Resistance Committee, a pro-democracy group, said on Saturday.

Fighting erupted on April 15, 2023, as the RSF tried to snatch power from army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Since then, the conflict has displaced more than 10 million people, creating one of the worst global humanitarian crises, according to data from the United Nations.

Since September, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been pursuing a major offensive to retake areas in and around the capital, Khartoum, from the control of the RSF, the envoy to Nigeria said with little support from the international community the defeat of the RSF could be fast tracked.

Sudan Appeals for International Support to End War