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World Earth Day: HOMEF Holds Climate Justice Assembly, Tasks N’Delta Activists On Unity

Published

3 months ago

April 23, 2025

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

In commemoration of this year’s World Earth Day with the theme: ‘Our Power, Our Planet’, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF ) Tuesday, April 22, 2025, organised a day Climate Assembly/Volunteers Convergence in Benin where unity of purpose amongst Niger Deltans took the centre stage.

The Climate Justice Assembly which drew over 100 participants across oil producing communities in the Niger Delta states, was also attended by government officials, civil society groups, volunteers and students.

Oil extraction impacted communities people from Ogu, Okrika, Eteo, and Joinkrama 1,2,3&4 of Rivers State, Ekpetiama and Ikarama of Bayelsa State, and Iboro, Gelegele and Orhionmwon of Edo State were all in attendance.

Speaking on the sub-topic, ‘Depetrolize’ Not Decarbonize – Time to ‘Ogonize’ and Yusunize – Defining Justice within Climate Justice, Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, said the essence of the Assembly was to stand “together, go to our various communities and demand for climate justice.”

The environmental activist called for unity of purpose amongst Niger Delta CSOs in the call for an alternative to the continuous pollution in the region, just as he called for an urgent move towards renewable energy.

Elaborating on the new words in his topic, Bassey said ‘Ogonizing’ and ‘Yasunizng’ are new words he coined as a way of calling people particularly those affected by oil extraction to learn from the Ogoni and Yasuni people who stopped oil extraction in their domains.

He said: “The Ogoni people were able to stop extraction of crude oil in Ogoniland since 1993. So, we want people all over the world to learn from the Ogoni people by what we call ogonizing. That means to peacefully demand a swift from fossil fuel.”

He added: “We are also calling for people to learn from the people of Ecuador where they also legally stop the extraction of oil in a place called Yasuni National Park. And so, Yusunize and Ogonize are the clarion calls we are making today.”

Also speaking on the sub-topic: Environmental Monitoring as a Tool for Climate Justice, Friday Nbani, lamented that a lot of gas flaring are going on across the Niger Delta hence community people need to equip themselves with modern data collection tools for them to get the appropriate data before they can demand for justice.

Also speaking on the sub-topic: Mobilising for Action – Local Actions for Global Impacts, a renowned mobilizer and coordinator-general of Edo Civil Society Organisations, Leftist Omobude Agho, urged community people to go back to their various communities and take action against pollution and environmental degradation.

Agho, who stressed the need for unity in the struggle, added: “We must all get up and begin to think and share ideas on how to stand against the oppressors.”

He added: “We must mobilise all communities, not just communities affected by oil extraction but every community in the Niger Delta.”

He urged the people to leverage on the Freedom of Information Act to ask questions about pressing issues, saying environmental justice is connected to all and not impacted communities alone.

Okpone Bassey, while speaking on Building Youth Voices for Climate Action – Volunteering vs Action, urged youth to leverage on the social media to speak out against social injustice.

The Assembly climaxed with a panel of discussion where people from impacted communities shared their experiences and the way forward.

Related Topics:HOMEF Nnimmo Bassey World Earth Day

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“May May The South Of Former President Bola…,” Uzodinma Trends After Public Gaffe

Published

59 minutes ago

July 22, 2025

Editor

The Governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodinma is currently trending on Social Media over a gaffe he made while eulogizing late Ex-President, Muhammadu Buhari.

It was learned that Uzodinma, while speaking at the Constitution Review Zonal Public Hearings in Owerri Center for Imo and Abia State on Saturday, made the error during a prayer for late Buhari.

The Governor said;” May the Soul of Former President Bola (pauses)…..Former President Muhammadu Buhari and the souls of all the departed through the mercy of God, Rest in Peace”

Watch the Video Below:

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Ex-Lagos Governor Fashola Gets International Appointment

Published

2 hours ago

July 22, 2025

Editor

Former Lagos State Governor and ex-Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Resolve to Save Lives Nigeria (RTSL Nigeria), an international public health organization.

The appointment was announced on Friday by RTSL Nigeria, a health-focused body working to prevent cardiovascular diseases and epidemics.

The group, which opened an office in Abuja in 2022, partners with governments and communities to tackle some of the world’s deadliest health threats.

Reacting to the appointment, Dr. Tom Frieden, President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Fashola to the RTSL Nigeria Board of Directors. He has demonstrated a commitment to improving lives and livelihoods in Nigeria through more than two decades of public service.”

Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), previously served as Minister of Power, Works and Housing under President Muhammadu Buhari. He was also the Chief of Staff in Lagos State before becoming governor from 2007 to 2015.

During his tenure, Fashola was instrumental in managing Nigeria’s response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, earning him international recognition, including the Stephen J. Solarz Award from the International Crisis Group.

In his acceptance remarks, Fashola said he was honoured to join the board and pledged to support the organization’s mission.

“I look forward to helping continue the progress in stopping preventable deaths from cardiovascular diseases and infectious disease outbreaks,” he said.

Ibrahim Abubakar, a fellow board member and Dean at the University College London Faculty of Population Health Sciences, described Fashola’s inclusion as a valuable asset, citing his governance experience and leadership during health crises.

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ICRC Warns Of Rising Malnutrition As North-East Faces Food Shortages

Published

2 hours ago

July 21, 2025

Editor

As food insecurity deepens across North-East Nigeria, farmers in conflict-affected areas are battling hunger, displacement, and limited access to land—all while striving to feed their families and communities.

This is according to a press statement by the International Committee of the Red Cross, which was obtained on Monday.
The ICRC also said more than 3.7 million people in the region are currently facing food insecurity. Many of them are farmers who have lost access to their farmlands due to persistent violence and displacement.

Speaking, according to the statement, Modu Umar, a community leader in Dikwa, said, “Right now, we face severe food shortages. Some families are forced to walk long distances every day to collect firewood just to sell and buy food. Farming is the only solution to hunger.”

Also, a 70-year-old farmer, Churi Ibrahim from Gajibo, noted that insecurity has drastically limited movement in rural areas, with many farmers trekking for hours to access their fields under the threat of attack.

“Some people trek three hours to reach their farms. By the time you reach your farm, you’re already exhausted, and when you return home, it’s late. For a large family like mine, sometimes, we don’t even get one meal a day,” Gajibo said.

Despite the danger and fatigue, many continue farming out of sheer necessity. “Even when you’re afraid, you have to go. If you don’t farm during the rainy season, you’ll have nothing to eat,” said Bintu Konto, a mother of five.

As the lean season begins—a time when food stocks run low and prices rise—households are under growing pressure. “This is when households must start purchasing food, but many conflict-affected families can’t afford much. They’re forced to drastically limit their intake,” Head of the ICRC Office in Maiduguri, Diana Japaridze, said.

The statement also said, ”The food crisis is also fuelling rising levels of malnutrition, particularly among children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women. In response, the ICRC is supporting malnutrition stabilisation centres and conducting community education to help families care for vulnerable children.

”To build resilience and support long-term recovery, the ICRC has launched an agricultural assistance programme targeting both rainy and dry seasons. This year alone, over 21,000 farming households have received seeds tailored to local conditions, along with planting tools designed to reduce labour and increase efficiency.

”The support includes staple crops like rice and maize as well as vegetables such as tomato and okra, helping to improve dietary diversity and nutrition. Farmers are also receiving training in sustainable agricultural practices to help them maintain production beyond the lifespan of ICRC’s support.

”At the national level, the ICRC has partnered with the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) to complete repairs on a vital water source. This facility now ensures uninterrupted water supply for NASC’s seed testing and greenhouse operations, a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s broader agricultural system.

“Still, the lean season remains a painful period for many farmers who simply cannot grow enough to meet their families’ needs.

“For many of us, it’s not just about farming—it’s about survival,” said Churi Ibrahim. “When you can’t feed your children, every day becomes a struggle.”