From Our Reporter
The Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) has joined the world to mark the world environment day, asking the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately put a stop to gas flaring in the Niger Delta region.
Michael Chidozie, Communication and Advocacy Officer of CEHRD said, ‘The theme of this year’s world environment day; ‘Raise your voice, not the sea level,’ was aimed at emphasizing protection for small island developing states who were at the risk of being submerged by rise in sea level due to climate change.
According to Chidozie, it was estimated that if greenhouse gases emissions continued to rise through this century, polar ice will be thrown into unstoppable melting circle that will raise sea level by more than 7 meters.
CEHRD recalled with anxiety that, save for the Eastern flanks of the Niger Delta, where it was 10-15m above sea level, most of the Delta was less than 6m above sea level.
This implies that the predicted 7 m rise in sea level will submerge greater part of the Niger Delta.
CEHRD also noted with sadness that in the face of increasing vulnerability of the Niger Delta to climate change driven flooding and submersion, gas flaring in the Niger Delta contributes significantly to global climate change.
“On a daily bases, Nigeria flares about 2.4 billion standard cubic feet of associated gas from oil fields in the Niger Delta, amounting to approximately 16 percent of global emissions,” CEHRD said.
The Organization which works in the areas of human and environmental rights, conservation and community development, strongly condemned the increasing shrinkage of mangroves of the Niger Delta due mainly to crude oil spillages, land reclamation, uncontrollable dredging activities and unsustainable exploitation for fuel wood.
“Mangroves of the Delta are the first line of defence of the coastal communities against ocean surges and storms, thus, depletion of the Delta mangroves exacerbates the regions floods vulnerability. The government should stop the conversion of swamp and wetlands for different developmental projects, as these ecosystems are the kidneys of the landscapes. They act as sinks for run-off waters, recharge ground water aquifers and control flooding,” Chidozie warned.
