By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Dr Nnimmo Bassey, on Thursday has advocated for the end of fossil fuel dependence in Nigeria as well as in Africa.
Bassey, who spoke at a virtual forum entitled “Conversations with Nature” attributed the current climate crisis to the dependence on fossil fuels and other factors.
Speaking during the event, he noted that nature has been resilient and endured several decades of destructive human activities in the extractive industry.
The environmentalist explained that climate change was nature’s way of reacting to human activities that distort its dynamics and balance.
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He advised that beyond fossils, there are so many sources of energy that do not destroy natural resources and they are renewables.
He said, “To get out of the climate crisis starring the world in the face, we need to switch to renewable energy sources and stop ecologically destructive activities.
“We need to go back to “Eti Uwem“ which stands for the good life in Ibibiolanguage.”
He also added, “We should not wait for nature to enforce its right, but we as living being should respect it. And one of the ways to respect nature is to stop pollution; we should stop deforestation. Nature itself is a living being, it has a life circle, so it should be respected.
“If we live right with nature, we will live well and be more energetic. Nature will treat us the way we treat it. Respecting nature will take us to where we ought to be. There is need for us to restore the old relationship with nature. This is the future we should be dreamt of – the one the old cordial relationship with nature is restored.
“We should stop the pollution; we should stop deforestation; we should stop dependence on fossil fuel. Nigeria should move from dependence on fossil fuel.”
