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By Adewale Sanyaolu
Spaces for Change (S4C), a non-profit organisation working to infuse human rights into social and economic governance processes in Nigeria, has expressed concerns over the hasty implementation of the country’s energy transition policy.
Executive Director, S4C, Victoria-Ohaeri, stated this on the sidelines of the 13th anniversary of S4C held in Lagos at the weekend. The S4C ED maintained that while it agrees with the benefits that come with energy transition, especially in the reduction of carbon emission, it remained concerned about companies’ greenwashing their identities by merely changing their names and logos and calling themselves green friendly firms.
She equally lamented the divestments by some oil and gas companies from fossil fuel investments without cleaning up the environment that they have destroyed.
The S4C director pointed out the creation of national policy arrangements that have created a picture of what the new green economy will look like without mentioning communities and what the alternative livelihoods for them would be.
In his goodwill message to S4C, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr. Ogbonnaya Orji, extolled the virtues of Ibezim-Ohaeri, whose visionary leadership and relentless advocacy have transformed the landscape of host community engagement in the Niger Delta.
“Through your pioneering efforts, S4C has championed the cause of communities long neglected by environmental and social injustices resulting from oil exploration. You have empowered these communities with the tools and platforms needed to assert their rights, demand accountability, and participate meaningfully in shaping policies that affect their well-being and livelihoods,”.
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Through her efforts, he said S4C has played a pivotal role in advancing the principles of transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness within Nigeria’s extractive sector, adding that NEITI values the contributions to of the joint efforts to bridge the gap between policy reforms and community empowerment, recognising that sustainable development can only be achieved when the voices of host communities are heard and their interests protected.
Orji disclosed that the the partnership with S4C has yielded remarkable progress while engagement with NEITI’s Host Communities’ Consultative Forums have provided vital platforms for stakeholders to dialogue on the findings of NEITI’s oil and gas audits, stands as a testament to the commitment for fostering transparency and accountability.
These forums, he said, have empowered host communities to actively participate in discussions surrounding environmental degradation, revenue allocation, and corporate social responsibility
The NEITI ES commended the leadership of S4C in the development of advocacy tools and reports that have enhanced the capacity of local communities to hold duty bearers accountable and demand better governance.
“Your collaborative efforts with NEITI have enriched our understanding of the realities faced by host communities and strengthened our resolve to champion reforms that address their concerns.
As we look to the future, NEITI reaffirms its commitment to deepening our partnership with S4C. We will continue to work together to address the legitimate concerns of host communities by advocating for governance frameworks that prioritize environmental justice, equitable revenue distribution, and genuine community inclusion in extractive sector reforms.
Our shared goals will remain centered on ensuring that transparency and accountability translate into concrete benefits for those most affected by extractive activities.
