Governments at all levels have been urged by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) to cease putting money and royalties from oil and gas operations ahead of the lives of Niger Delta residents and their environment.
The Executive Director of the HOMEF, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, made the call during a one-day capacity building in Amonogo Biri, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, organised for communities on how to combat and provide solutions to the persistent environmental pollution caused by refining, oil and petrochemical companies operating in the area.
Bassey lamented that local communities in the Niger Delta drink water from polluted streams and rivers and also breathe polluted air.
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He urged the incoming government to as a matter of priority, respond to the needs of the people of the Niger Delta by protecting the environment since the people depend on the environment for a living.
According to Bassey, the government is the main offender when it comes to environmental degradation since they are only interested in the exploration of natural resources at the expense of the underprivileged people, whose means of subsistence are completely devastated.
He added that the workshop was essential to empowering the local populace to speak out against environmental deterioration and to challenge the government and oil companies over the pollution in the area.
Story was adapted from Nigerian Tribune
