By Odia Itua, Abuja
Seriake Dickson, former governor of oil-rich Bayelsa State and current senator representing Bayelsa West in the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly, needs no introduction. If you call him an activist, an orator, Ijaw leader or a servant-leader, you’re perfectly in order. Dickson encompasses all the aforementioned qualities.
As a senator and chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, Dickson could be likened to a positive alarmist. Whenever anything goes wrong in the South-South, especially issues surrounding the environment, rest assured that Dickson will raise the alarm.
As governor of Bayelsa State, he wrestled and battled international oil companies who refused to do their job, by establishing best practices in oil exploration. Whenever there were oil spills, Dickson spoke out loudly. Unfortunately, those constitutionally empowered to enforce environmental laws seldom did anything.
In the Senate, Dickson has been leading a campaign since he joined the Red Chamber in 2020. His new position as chairman of the Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change will further afford him the opportunity to make laws that will protect his people in the Niger Delta region of the South-South.
Recently, Dickson raised the alarm over the mindless deforestation in the country and asked state governors to curtail the trend.
He pleaded with the state governors to redouble their efforts to ensure the preservation of the environment, in the interest of posterity.
He said: “As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, I will work with all NGOs in Nigeria, support the efforts of all institutions and bodies, to advance the cause of the environment, particularly to join the campaign against climate change. Nigeria’s response to climate change and support to communities devastated by climate change will see a marked difference by the time our committee swings into action.”
Again, Dickson, at a recent forum, revealed that Africa has 40 per cent of the world’s energy renewable sources, but due to limited financing we only attract 2 per cent. He said this at the Africa Climate Forum 2023, themed “Powering the Future: Financing Energy Transition for Sustainable Progress,’ in Abuja.
He also said creating an enabling environment that would attract funding was necessary to boost energy transition in Nigeria: “Globally, we are faced with challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, hence, the need for a sustainable energy fusion. The talks in this can’t be overemphasized. Our dependence on fossil fuel has not only contributed to global warming but also resulted to air pollution. It is our collective responsibility to drive this energy transition and financing, as you will all agree, to continue to play a special role in this endeavour.
“Transitioning to a sustainable energy future is not an easy task. We have been told that Africa has 40 per cent of the world’s energy renewable sources and yet available finances so far indicates that we have only attracted 2 per cent.
“It requires massive investment, a clean energy infrastructure, investment in innovative technologies and a shift generally in our energy consumption matters, but with great challenges also comes great opportunities. The transitioning to clean energy is not just about mitigating the effects of climate change but it is enormous.
“Financing this transition represents a win-win scenario for all and for the entire economy. There are things to consider; we have to necessarily look at the possibilities that promote public-private partnerships, incentives and subsidies, carbon pricing, education and creating awareness, technology and innovation education, moving forward.”
Speaking on the need for collaboration to enable a smooth energy transition, Dickson stated: “There’s need for synergy between all ministries departments and agencies. Financing the transition will require legislative intervention, whether by strengthening existing legislation or bringing a new legislation that will promote finances for energy transitioning; essentially, as we all know, we cannot make any headway unless we create an environment that would attract the needed financing for this energy transition.”
As governor, a radical Dickson accused multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta of engaging in environmental terrorism. He said, for close to 60 years, the Niger Delta had suffered environmental pollution and degradation due to the activities of oil companies operating in the various communities of the region.
He added: “You are all aware of the situation of our environment; you know what has gone wrong with our polluted drinking water, the devastation of our farmlands, our health conditions, but we have been taking a lot of actions since we came on board.”
Dickson said the state had commissioned forensic experts to compile from the communities in the state the effects of the prolonged devastation and pollution on the environment, health and citizens’ wellbeing.
He said: “The scientists in no distant time will announce the findings in that report but let me say that I am saddened and frightened about the snippets of the report that I have seen. I can clearly see the connection between the prolonged decades of pollution of our waters and creeks and the rising cases of cancer and generally the shortened lifespan of our people.”
To cap it all, Global Initiative for Climate and Environmental Sustenance recently honoured him. The leader, Ogueri Mbah, explained that the senator, during his tenure as governor, impaneled an International Commission on Oil Spills to assess environmental damages, determine responsibility, and develop a new legal framework for accountability and compensation in the area.
The leader of the coalition, Celestine Okwudili, who represented Mrs Ene Obi of Action Aid at the meeting, praised the former governor for sustaining a healthy environment while serving as Governor of Bayelsa State between 2012 and 2020.
According to Okwudilli, the indelible efforts made by Dickson include the constitution of an international commission on the environment chaired by Bishop, Lord Sentamu.
For Dickson, the next three years and six months will prove useful. Nigerians, especially folks from the Niger Delta region can be assured that miracles will happen through robust legislations Dickson will champion on the floor of the Senate.