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N’Delta Fishermen Write Buhari, Seek End To Environmental Pollution, Degradation
Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin
Representatives and leaders of Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria from the five Niger Delta states, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to prevail on multi-national oil giants in putting an end to the environmental degradation and pollution in the region; and take responsibility for the destruction they had caused over the years.
This was contained in an open letter addressed to President Buhari which was handed to newsmen on Wednesday in Benin when representatives and leaders of the fishermen paid a congratulatory visit to the 2022 Goldman Environmental Prize for Africa winner, Chima Williams, Esq.
The fishermen, who happen to be victims of Shell Bonga oil spill, lamented that the continuous effect of the activities of oil companies had not only destroyed their main source of livelihood, but also posed a serious threat to the people’s health.
The group who spoke through their lawyer, Chima Williams Esq., who is also the Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, sought a workable solution to the environmental despoliation arising from operations of the oil companies.
Williams, who commended President Buhari for the positive steps taken in environmental protection and preservation over the years, appealed to the President to ensure that petroleum extractive companies were compelled to live up to their responsibility of restoring the environment.
READ ALSO: N45.7bn Court Judgement: Shell Accused Of Ripping Off EJAMA-Ebubu Community
The letter reads in part: “Mr President, I want to use this medium to appeal to you to use your good offices and as a caring father to bring all the parties together including all the petroleum extractive companies, such as Shell, Exxon Mobil, Nigerian Agip Oil Company and Total Energy and the victims of their operations, relevant government agencies and authorities to discuss workable solutions to the environmental despoliation arising from their operational methodologies in the country.
“A situation where we currently have the multinational oil companies running away from their responsibilities of restoring the Nigerian environment to the way it was before their extractive adventures, restituting citizens, whose livelihoods pattern have been either distorted or dislodged by the dislocation of their societal fabrics in the name of divestment, should also be addressed, and operations discouraged until the needful is done.
“I believe that as a listening father, you have always been attending to the downtrodden masses of Nigerian, especially the fishermen victims of Shell Bonga oil spill. I believe that you will bring succour to them before your administration winds up.”
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