By Obiabin Onukwugha
An environmental activist, Dr. Dumnamene Fyneface, has emphasised the need for the federal government to address the issue of pipeline vandalism, oil theft and environmental pollution in the Niger Delta region, stating that it will lead to increased government revenue and safeguard the lives of communities and those involved in the illegal business.
Fyneface, who is the Executive Director of Youth and Environmental Advocacy Centre YEAC-NIGERIA, made the submissions during an interview session with NatureNews Correspondent in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The activist, who is pushing for the establishment of Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative, PACORDI, as an agency of government, emphasised that it will not only curb artisanal refinery and pipeline vandalism, but it will also provide an alternative livelihood for those involved in the illegal business.
“PACORDI is talking about stopping pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refineries, and environmental pollution in the Niger Delta, through the legalization, modernization and integration of artisanal refineries into the national economy,” he said.
Fyneface also delved into the ongoing Ogoni cleanup and the need to extend it to the entire Niger Delta. “So my take is that the push for the cleanup of the entire Niger Delta should happen but that cannot happen in a vacuum. In Ogoni, we have the UNEP Report on Ogoni released on August 4, 2011. In Bayelsa today, we have the Bayelsa Oil and Gas Commission Report that has recommended $US12billion for twelve years to clean up the area. If these two reports have been put in place, then we should start from there. We cannot go about cleaning the entire Niger Delta when we don’t have report telling us about the status of the pollution, nature of the cleaning and the steps that should be taken to clean,” he stated.
Dr. Fyneface also kicked against the divestment process by oil companies from the Niger Delta, and called on the Indegenous oil companies to avoid polluting the environment like the multinationals did.
For details of the interview turn to page ……
