NGO takes campaign against oil pollution to Bayelsa coastal communities

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has embarked on the training of over 100 residents of various oil-rich communities in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa on monitoring oil-producing activities and pollution in their communities.

HOMEF programme officer, Mr 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 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 a 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.

The Programme Manager and Head, Environmental Right Action (ERA), Niger Delta Resource Centre, Mr Morris Alagoa, said that the event is to educate the people on the importance of the environment and pollution and its mitigation procedures.

He said that 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 spills are one of the things hindering healthy living amongst 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 sensitization of the rural people who are the host community.

The Project Officer, ERA, Mr Monday Zeworitin, said oil spills load the marine environment with a lot of toxic chemicals that are detrimental to life underwater.

The Vice Chairman Twon Brass Council of Chiefs, Chief Otonye Layefa commended the organisers for their training and sensitization of the rural people.

He said that they have also been affected by the ocean surge, appealing to the Bayelsa government and federal government to come to their aid, as their ancestral land is being washed away.