Former Vice Chancellor, Lagos state University (LASU), Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, has asserted that, according to data from the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), that more than 18,149 oil spill incidents occurred between 2006-2024, with far reaching impacts on both the people and the environment.
Prof. Fagbohun made the statement in an event organised by the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) during the public unveiling of State of the Nigerian Environment Report-titled:” Voices from the Communities,” and the celebration of heroes of the environment in Benin city.
The former LASU VC in his presentation added that, is a moment of deep reflection on the struggles confronting of communities and their experiences with the harsh consequences of the environmental degradation.
He posited that, across over the nation that the evidence of environmental degradation is undeniable and the report exposes a persistence crisis across the Niger Delta.
“More than 18,149 NOSDRA recorded field oil spills between 2006-2024, citing United Nations environment programme and Bayelsa Commission Data.
“The report revealed that Ogoniland alone with the ground water Basin level exceed World Health Organisation limit by 900 times, with the results that affected local communities are constrained to consume carcinogen water.
“In Bayelsa, the spill exposure directly correlated with rising infant mortality and pregnancy loss. With expect to study mineral extraction and the associated safety health and environmental hazard.
“The report is as henceforth on the damage consequences of unregulated health mining, heavy men contamination of vital water body, extensive land degradation and hazardous child labour have become the order of the day,” Prof.
Fagbohun added.
The Executive Director, Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) Chima Williams, said the essence of the event was to look at the report done by CSOs, lawyers and how it affects our environment.
He said, “We are making a public presentation of a publication of the Nigerian environment report of the voices of the communities. The publication is the first of its kind done by the CSO in Nigeria cataloguing the state of the Nigerian environment; from North to the East and from the West to the South.
“Looking at different environmental issues in Nigeria from expansive and resource environmental challenges to legislative and legal framework challenges to environmental protection and defence in the country.
“And of course, the consequences of the environment not been intended with nature, and not been well protected.
“The report as we have them is for us a first core for action on both civil society actors, community actors, the government both at federal, state, local and community levels to look at the issue of the environment, look at the challenges that our environment of today has and begins to collectively think of ways in which we can solve the environmental challenges.”
He said the report is a Nigeria initiative which he said will help to protect our environment and address the plight facing the environment.
Williams, who is Board chairman of EDEN, said the second component of the event is to celebrate their environmental heroes. He said those environmental heroes campaign for justice not only in the Niger Delta region but in Nigeria.
He said he shared special relationship with these three late personalities.They are; Prof Festus Iyayi, a former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Comrade Jonathan Ihonde, a world class dramatist, and Oronto Douglas, who represented an unbroken spirit in the agitation for environmental and social Justice in the Niger Delta.
They were also given a posthumous awards for their immense contribution to the nation.
Reviewing the report made up of 56 pages, Dr. Vivien Njemanze, said the report was not intended to merely present data and update on the perilous state of the Nigerian environment, but its prime purpose was to increase public awareness on the extent to which the destruction of the environment affects everyone.
Njemanze, a former clerk of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria and founder, Vivien Nonyelum Njemanze Foundation, said Nigeria has enjoyed a relatively stable environment and there is hardly any record of a monumental natural disaster that has happened within its geographical space, but the threat to the sustainability of the environment in Nigeria comes from human activities and inactions.
She also amplified the call to action that all stakeholders must take steps to halt any further degradation of the environment and join forces to protect it for all of us.
Dr. Njemanze said Nigeria environment is laid bare to huge biodiversity losses, colossal waste lands, life threatening gully erosions, ocean surge, coastal erosions, draught and desertification among others contributing to the increased climate change impacts and conflicts.
