Environmental Vanguards Demand Rights of Nature to be given just as Human Rights

By: Michael Mike

A group of environmental vanguards have demanded rights of nature to be inalienable given just as human rights are not allowed to be violated and protected by no other than United Nations and its several agencies.

Presenting their position in Abuja on Monday at the Nigeria Socioecological Alternatives Convergence (NSAC), the environmental vanguards riled out several demands in what they described as NSAC Charter which include: Access to water as a human right; Recognise the Rights of Nature; Inclusive policy development; Just energy transition from a polluting and epileptic dirty energy model to renewable energy; Job transitioning; Transition to agroecology; Ensure biosafety and biosecurity, ban genetically modified organisms.

Other demands are: Halt deforestation, promote reforestation; Protect our wetlands and halt indiscriminate land reclamation; Invest in flood control infrastructure; Enforcement of mining regulations; Decommissioning of mines and oil wells at end of life; Compensations for job losses and reparations for ecological damage to affected communities; Ecological audit — State of the Nigerian environment.

Also demanded are: Environmental remediation; Accessible and affordable clean energy. Energy democracy; Revamped emergency response mechanisms; Reject false solutions to climate change, including carbon offsets, geoengineering, etc; Halt gas flaring; Halt and reversal of divestments by IOCs and Declare no mining zones.

The Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey who presented their demands at the 2nd Nigeria Socioecological Alternatives Convergence held at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, on Monday noted that the fabric of the social and environmental conditions of Nigeria are literally stretched to the limit.

He stated that: “The threats emanate from local and global strands of the polycrisis wracking the globe. Exploitation, displacements, conflicts, climate chaos, socioeconomic inequities combine to threaten the tenuous fabrics holding our nation and peoples together.”

He stated that: “Desertification, deforestation, extreme water and air pollution, deadly floods, coastal and gully erosion, insecure farms and diverse ecological devastations all merit a declaration of national environmental security state of emergency? The widespread environmental challenges also provide clear platforms for collective work to salvage the situation in ways that political coalitions may not.”

He declared that: “Waiting before acting is a luxury the people cannot afford. The clarion call for action is urgent and critically existential. This reality inspired the Nigeria Socioecological Alternatives Convergence (NSAC). Regrettably at this second outing the conditions remain dire. We remain undaunted because we understand that the struggle for the change we need cannot be a sprint because it has to be a comprehensive overhaul of a system entrenched by indifference and lack of accountability. The socioecological alternatives we propagate must overturn the current predatory system of destructive extraction and shredded ecological safety nets. Our charter has to construct a Nigeria that is decolonial and post extractivist.”

Bassey said that: “In the maiden national convergence, we collectively agreed to a national charter for socioecological justice. Even as we achieved that major milestone we had hopes that at a future date, we would have participants from other African countries. That future has come faster than we expected. At this convergence we have participants from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. We also have other international partners. The reality of having an African Socioecological Alternatives Convergence (ASAC) is drawing near.”

He noted that there are sources to learn from in efforts to overhaul environmental governance in Nigeria, stressing that in Africa, Kenya and South Africa have constitutional provisions for environmental rights that we can learn from, the South American countries of Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela have constitutional provisions for the rights of Nature.

He explained that: “The Rights of Nature includes the right for Nature to be free from pollution. It also places obligations on human at a number of levels. The Declaration on the Rights of Mother Earth is yet to be universally adopted.

“There is a strong campaign for the recognition of ecocide as a crime in the Rome Statute in line with genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, etc.

“We already have outcomes of litigations as well as reports that show evidence of ecocide in Nigeria and these could back up the urgency of the crisis,” explaining that: “Two of such reports are the UNEP Report ( Environmental Assessment of Ogoni environment, 2011) and the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission Report (Environmental Genocide, 2023).”

Bassey noted that: “Delta State House of Assembly is working on a bill to recognize the personhood of River Ethiope. The 2014 National Confab had recommendations for justiciability of human and environmental rights.”

He stated that according to the NSAC Charter, ‘Our vision is of a Nigeria where ecological integrity, social justice, and economic wellbeing coexist. We must birth a Nigeria where the rights of nature are respected, where communities have control over their resources and enjoy resource democracy, and where everyone has access to clean air, water, and a healthy environment.”

He argued that: “The environment supports our life and exploitation of nature’s gifts must be conducted in manners that do not disrupt or breach the cycles of nature. As part of nature, humans have responsibilities and obligations regarding how we interact with our environment and other beings we share the planet with. Human activities contribute to the squeezing we are experiencing from desertification in northern Nigeria and the erosion washing away our communities on the coastline. Sixty-eight (68) years of extraction of fossil fuels has rendered the Niger Delta a disaster zone. Climate impacts and environmental genocide leave festering sores on the territory. Uncontrolled solid mineral extraction is poking holes across the land, and these combined with long abandoned but non-decommissioned mines are scars that we cannot ignore.”

He said: “Let us together ‘Yasunize’ and ‘Ogonize’ by demanding the protection of communities and territories with natural or cultural diversity against activities that cause serious environmental impacts, such as from oil and gas extraction, open cast mining, and other mega-projects. We must wake up and demand a change of mentality.

“Our leaders must Arise and be true compatriots, not lords or emperors, even if that anthem has been placed on the shelf. Oil for development has placed Nigeria on a treadmill surrounded by voracious and insatiable forces of exploitation, expropriation and extermination.”

He revealed that: “The major focus of this Convergence is Examining Relevant National Policies and Frameworks for Addressing Environmental, Climate Change and Socio-ecological Challenges.”

On his part, a Climate Change Specialist. Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo, in his key note address noted that the world is confronted with a number of development challenges – record unemployment, unsustainable fiscal deficits, low growth, among others.

He said. “All this in a context where environmental and climate concerns are becoming an increasingly important component of economic policy.”

Environmental Vanguards Demand Rights of Nature to be given just as Human Rights

Bio Mourns Passing of Buhari

By: Michael Mike

Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of
Heads of State and Government and President of Sierra Leone, President Julius Maada Bio has mourned the passing of former Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari.

A statement by Sierra Leone State House, Freetown read: “It is with profound grief that His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio mourns the passing of his dear friend and former President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, who departed this life on Sunday, 13th July 2025.

“In his capacity as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Julius Maada Bio extends heartfelt condolences to the
Government and People of Nigeria, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and most especially to the bereaved family of the late President Buhari.

“The late President Buhari was a formidable statesman whose dedication to the service of his nation will remain a testament to their legacy.

“As Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, President Bio recognizes with admiration the leadership demonstrated by the late President Buhari during his tenure as Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority
of Heads of State and Government. His courageous commitment to the advancement of regional peace
stability, and economic integration was a hallmark of his stewardship.

“During this time of great sorrow, Sierra Leone stands in solidarity with the people of Nigeria. We join all West Africans and the global community in mourning the loss of a true patriot.”

Bio Mourns Passing of Buhari

Five killed, three injured as bandits attack church meeting in Kajuru community in Kaduna

By: Zagazola Makama

At least five persons have been confirmed dead and three others injured following a deadly attack by armed bandits on members of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) during a meeting at Kampani Village in Maro, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Sources from the Kaduna State Police Command told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred on Friday, July 11, at about 3:30 p.m., when a group of armed bandits stormed the church premises during a gathering of worshippers.

The sources said a Good Samaritan alerted security agencies about the attack at approximately 9:20 p.m., prompting a swift response.

A combined team of police operatives and sister security agencies was immediately deployed to the village, where it was confirmed that five worshippers had been shot and fatally wounded.

The victims were identified as: Victor Haruna, Dogara Jatau, Luka Yari, Jesse Dalami and Bawu John. They were rushed to the hospital, where doctors certified them dead.

Three others Samuel Aliyu, Philip Dominic, and Jacob Hussaini, sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a nearby medical facility.

Efforts are ongoing in collaboration with other security agencies to track and apprehend the perpetrators.

Five killed, three injured as bandits attack church meeting in Kajuru community in Kaduna