Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — As the 2022 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is marked today, a coalition of civil society groups, environmental activists and climate action campaigners have called for indigenous, environmental stewardship in the Niger Delta and an end to climate imperialism in the global south.
The coalition made up of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, Stakeholders Democracy Network and Ogoni Solidarity Forum in collaboration with International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation, Philippines said this in their message to mark the IDWIP’s day in Nigeria.
Marking the day with talkshow and street rally featuring songs, dance and display of cultural symbols to reflect the identity of the Ogoni indigenous peoples, the Executive Director of YEAC, Mr Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, said ‘Fight for our planet, indigenous stewardship, environment and climate imperialism’ was adopted as the theme of the event in Nigeria.
Fyneface speaking on behalf of the Coalition, said the the theme was imperative to further draw the attention of policymakers, oil companies, governments, the United Nations and peoples of the world to the plight of the indigenous peoples of the Niger Delta whose environment was still polluted.
“Indigenous people are suffering the impacts of soot, poor health, loss of livelihoods and climate challenges due to continued fossil fuel extraction and gas flaring by multinational oil companies, when the world is already on a pathway to just energy transition to clean and renewable energy.
“We need to ask critical stewardship questions on the Ogoni cleanup project, the NDDC, Shell and other oil companies’ divestments; the incessant oil spills from divested facilities including the recent Aiteo Group, Eroton E&P and recent oil spills in Bodo community.
“The planned resumption of oil exploration activities in the Ogoni area by the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company and Sahara Energy, when issues that led to its stoppage in 1993 have not been holistically addressed among others and demand for accountability from Niger Delta indigenous leaders.
“Ongoing activities like gas flaring, artisanal refining, setting ablaze confiscated vessels and tankers allegedly conveying illegal petroleum products by security operatives and crude oil spills from oil companies, contribute to the woes of the indigenous peoples and should be stopped.”
Speaking on the global theme of 2022 IDWIP’s Day, ‘The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge” YEAC said the theme was apt for the transmission of knowledge to children and the younger generation about life before and during oil mining in the Niger Delta.
“This event is part of Advocacy Centre’s mission of strengthening community-based advocacy in the Niger Delta through multi-stakeholder engagement and bring indigenous stakeholders including women, men, youths, and persons with disability together for a conversation around indigenous stewardship, environment and climate imperialism.
“The event also equipped the indigenous peoples with relevant knowledge on contemporary issues about their environment and amplify their voices to the world in the struggle to fight for our planet, save mother earth, demand for a fossil fuel-free future, environmental restoration, accountability and stewardship from Niger Delta leaders.”
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