By George George ldowu
A University lecturer and lawyer, Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika has called on all Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Nigeria to come together in using climate change litigation as a means of getting social-ecological justices.
Prof. Worika gave the advise on Wednesday in Abuja when he was giving his keynote address during the 3rd Niger Delta Alternatives Convergence with the topic “Almost Seven Decades of Hydrocarbon Extraction: Imperatives for Socio-Ecological Justice in Niger Delta.”
He said there is an increase in climate change litigation around the world citing the United States with almost in the region of 200 in a year. Hence, the need for Nigerians to follow that route.
He said: “Legal means can be used to compliment our social actions. It will help have a comprehensive result in social-ecological justice.”
The don said climate change should be taken seriously and that the Niger Delta region is highly vulnerable as they are closed to the Atlantic Ocean.
He cited some ruling by the Supreme Court that supports this claim. According to him, the Supreme Court has taken a stand by allowing people to litigate issues that have to do with the environment even if they are not directly involved.
According to him, “Public interest litigation will help address some of the barriers in access to justices as poor communities without financial strength can now sue based on the supports of public spirited organizations like NGO’s and individual.”
In the same vein, Worika said that the lack of proper environmental accountability and integrity on the part the oil and gas companies operating in the region over the decades as resulted in a detrimental damage to the environment, human rights and local inhabitants.
He said the failures of an effective regulating control on the part of the government have worsened an already bad situation.
“There are about three paths to socio-ecological justices which he called social action, executive orders and the legislature to initiate a law that forces oil companies to do the right thing in terms of social and ecological justices.”
Meanwhile, the Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey had reiterated the demands of the convergence from the maiden edition in 2022.
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He said the convergence continues to demand urgent responses to climate change impacts by setting up mechanisms for emergency response to floods, shoreline protection, restoration of mangrove forests, halting of deforestation, proper urban and rural planning and rejection of false solutions such as geoengineering, Blue Carbon and other carbon upsetting offsets which are tools for carbon slavery and colonialism.
Other core demands of the NDAC Manifesto include a call for immediate comprehensive environmental and health audits of the entire region Niger Delta with particular alignment to livelihoods and social and economic impacts of crude oil and gas extraction.
He said the call has become more paramount following the findings of the report of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission where the report highlights a per capita oil pollution of 1.5 barrels in the state from thousands of oil spills.
HOMEF director used the opportunity to call on international bodies to generate and invest at least $12 billion over the course of 12 years to repair, remediate and restore the environmental and public health damage caused by oil and gas and to lay the foundations for Bayelsa’s just transition towards renewable energy and opportunities for alternative livelihoods.
“The Niger Delta is indeed a short-fused time bomb. The oil well fires at Ororo-1 that has raged for over 4 years and the one at Alakiri-9 that has been on for 5 months; epitomize the fact that the time bomb is already exploding”
He said: “With the world shifting away from dirty energy, it is of utmost urgency that the Niger Delta region is rid of the scars of that regime and the destitution it has forced on the people. It is time to demand a demilitarized region with offshore oil platforms converted to wind farms for renewable energy.
“It is our hope that decisive blocks will be laid at this convergence for the restoration of the environment and reclaiming the dignity of the peoples,” he added.
However, the chairman of the event, King Bubaraye Dakolo, highlighted the challenges associated with using litigation as Prof. Worika had pointed out. He lamented how some litigation could take over 50 years before it was fully finalized.
He went further to express his dissatisfaction over the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021. He described it as a criminalization act against the people of Niger Delta states.
King Dakolo also called on all relevant stakeholders to help restore their land. He called on the oil, and gas companies who intend to leave should do that by also sitting out a clear program that will help in restoration of their land, not by just leaving like that.
He explained how it has become extremely difficult to earn a living in the region.
Iniruo Wills spoke on the topic “Legal Alternatives for Socio Ecological Justice in the Niger Delta: Options for Divestment and the Petroleum Industry Act” where he highlighted some alternative legal actions, solutions and strategies to used.
Among those solutions include lawful but aggressive engagements via petitions, meetings, executive actions, community legal self help, legislative action, amongst others.
