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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has embarked on the training of over 100 residents of various oil-rich communities in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on monitoring oil producing activities and pollution in their communities.
HOMEF programme officer, Stephen Oduware, who addressed a cross- section of volunteers, said the training for oil bearing communities was imperative because it was the people that were impacted by the activities of the oil and gas industry.
He identified International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the area, notably Agip and Shell, as the dominant operators that have reported a series of oil spills in 2015, 2021 and 2022.
Oduware said the aim of environmental monitoring and reporting training was to bring the people together to highlight and document the environmental impacts, the changes they are going through and the sufferings of the people.
He noted that through the capacity building they will be able to advocate sustainable environmental practices and speak up on what they want in their communities.
“We are here in Twon Brass to have discussion and to know the challenges they face; this area is predominantly for fishermen and women. It is not only people from Twon Brass that are here, we have other communities also. We are here to talk to them; these people face the issue of pollution from the production platforms and export loading terminals. So, we came here to sit down to analyse the situation and to talk about the needed action before the communities.
“They need environmental clean up, remediation and restoration, they equally need a health audit, we must know the health issue they are having,” he said.
Programme Manager and Head Environmental Right Action (ERA), Niger Delta Resource Centre, Morris Alagoa, said the event is to educate the people on the importance of the environment and pollution and its mitigation procedures.
He said due to the activities of man in the environment, most of the aquatic animals in the food chain and crops have become extinct.
According to him, oil spill is one of the things hindering healthy living among the rural dwellers, stating that the environment has been polluted over time.
“We are in the community to empower them on how to reach out to their people to reach out to the government, the oil firms, the media and to be self-reliant in dealing with their issues,” he said.
Alagoa commended HOMEF for the training and sensitisation of the rural people who are the host community.
Project Officer, ERA, Monday Zeworitin, said oil spills load the marine environment with a lot of toxic chemicals that are detrimental to life under water.
Vice Chairman Twon Brass Council of Chiefs, Otonye Layefa, commended the organisers for their training and sensitisation of the rural people.
He said they have also been affected by the ocean surge, appealing to the Bayelsa government and the Federal Government to come to their aid, as their ancestral land is being washed away.
