By Azeez Abdullahi
The Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, has called on the Federal and Bayelsa State governments to urgently address growing environmental pollution, health and livelihood concerns raised by residents of Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The call followed a community capacity-sharing dialogue organized by HOMEF under its Justice Through Communities-Centred Policy Advocacy project.
The dialogue brought together traditional rulers, women, youths, farmers, fishers, local government representatives and other stakeholders to examine environmental changes in the area and identify priorities for policy action.
Residents reported declining fish stocks, disappearance of aquatic species, concerns over water quality and changes in traditional resource use, which they linked to oil exploitation, pollution and other extractive activities.
They also expressed concern over weak environmental monitoring and enforcement.
For a community largely dependent on fishing, farming and other natural resources, HOMEF Executive Director, Rev. Nnimmo Bassey, said the reported environmental changes posed serious threats to livelihoods, food security, health and cultural heritage.
Bassey said: “Communities cannot continue to bear the environmental and economic costs of extraction while being treated as spectators in decisions about their own environment.”
HOMEF demanded a comprehensive and transparent environmental audit of Nembe, including assessments of water, soil and air quality, fish and other aquatic organisms, heavy metals and other contaminants.
It also called for regular food safety and environmental health monitoring amid concerns over the movement of pollutants through the food chain.
Health concerns featured prominently at the dialogue, with participants raising fears about the possible impact of environmental pollution on women, children, newborns and future generations, including reproductive health.
The Director of Primary Health Care, Nembe LGA, Chief Jude Pulemote, linked oil exploration activities to health challenges among rural residents, particularly concerns over anemia among pregnant women and disruption of livelihoods.
HOMEF said environmental monitoring must therefore be closely linked to public health interventions, especially for vulnerable groups.
Participants also faulted the limited involvement of affected communities in environmental assessments and Joint Investigation Visits, JIVs.
They demanded meaningful participation in environmental assessments, evidence gathering, JIVs, decision-making, remediation monitoring and evaluation of clean-up activities.
“Consultation is not participation. Meaningful participation means that communities have a voice throughout the process; from determining what is investigated to monitoring whether remediation has actually restored their environment,” HOMEF said.
The organization also urged authorities to recognize traditional and indigenous knowledge alongside scientific evidence in environmental governance, noting that indigenous systems historically helped regulate the use of forests, rivers, fishing grounds and other natural resources.
HOMEF said concerns raised in Nembe must be considered alongside existing evidence of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, including the UNEP Report on Ogoniland, the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission, BSOEC, report and the Niger Delta women’s health audit report by the Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre.
It said the region needed action rather than another cycle of environmental assessments without implementation.
“Existing evidence must translate into remediation, restoration, accountability and protection of livelihoods,” the organization said.
HOMEF consequently called for transparent and independent environmental and health assessments in Nembe; stronger enforcement of environmental laws and accountability for polluters; meaningful community participation in JIVs and remediation; implementation of relevant BSOEC recommendations; decommissioning of abandoned oil wells; and accelerated ecological restoration of degraded areas.
It also demanded protection and restoration of fishing and farming livelihoods, appropriate compensation and livelihood recovery mechanisms, stronger environmental health monitoring and public health interventions.
“The people of Nembe and the Niger Delta at large are not asking to be heard after decisions have been made. They are demanding the right to participate in decisions that determine the health of their environment, their livelihoods and the future of generations to come,” HOMEF stated.
