Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — We The People has raised the alarm that the federal government was planning a reopening of coal mines in Enugu and other locations, in a bid to diversify from dwindling crude oil revenues.
Executive Director of We The People, Comrade Ken Henshaw, who disclosed this warned of catastrophic consequences for the environment and public health, in addition to gas flaring which continues to blaze the Niger Delta atmosphere unchecked.
Henshaw speaking recently at the Annual Conference of Nigeria Coal Network with the theme, “Unite to Resist Gas Flaring and Coal Mining in Nigeria” maintained that coal, the most toxic fossil fuel, poses significant risks to local ecosystems and communities.
Noting that gas flaring had already led to devastating impacts in the Niger Delta, he observed that a recent report predicts an exponential increase in deformed babies in the next 25 years, with life expectancy in the region already at an alarming 41 years due to pollution.
According to him, with over 178 major gas flare points in the Niger Delta, international oil companies were now divesting from onshore operations to deep offshore, cunningly leaving behind a legacy of environmental damage and health problems.
“Since oil revenue is declining, the government wants to diversify to other sources such as coal. They want to reopen the coal mines in Enugu and other places.
“Mind you, coal is the most toxic fossil fuel and the move must be resisted.
“On gas flaring, there has been a report that in the next 25 years, there will be an exponential increase in deformed babies due to gas flaring in the Niger Delta. Life expectancy is already 41 years in Niger Delta due to pollution.
“Already, there are 178 major gas flare points in the Niger Delta. The companies behind the degradation are divesting onshore Nigeria to offshore. If we allow them to move, who will be held accountable for the damage to the Niger Delta environment and the health of the people?” We The People queried.
