Oil bearing communities in Niger Delta are the most neglected – Prof. Adewumi

An Environmentalist and University Don, Prof. Afe Adewumi says oil bearing communities in Nigeria’s Niger Delta are the most neglected in terms of environmental issues.

Prof. Adewumi made the disclosure in Warri, Delta State during a one-day leaders/stakeholders conference organized by Safe Communities’ Support Development Foundation, SCSDF.

He described a situation whereby host communities to oil majors do not have portable drinking water which “contains 25 minerals when taken into the body.’’

The academic who is also the President, African Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production, ARSCP, Head of Civil Engineering Department, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, was represented by the Executive Officer/President of Safe Communities’ Support Development Foundation, SCSDF, Mr. Alfred Ugharami.

He decried the situation where oil companies organize meetings with host communities outside their area of operations, noting that it short-changes the host communities and the state government of revenues due to them.

Cross Section of stakeholders & participants shortly after the seminar

Mr. Ugharami opined that the riverine communities of Niger Delta were the safest area to live before oil exploration started and challenged the oil companies operating in Itsekiri coastal areas to live up to their responsibilities.

The CEO of SCSDF highlighted some of the achievements of his NGO to include registration with Delta State government, membership of the board of ARSCP, Parachute Foundation Canada and other international partnerships.

According to him, Deghele is the second oil producing community in Delta State yet it has nothing to show for its abundant God-given resources due to neglect by the community leaders and oil companies.

He however opined that a safe community is possible in Nigeria if we change our safety culture to the best and standard practices.

The Chairlady, Concerned Itsekiri Coastal Dwellers Association, CICDA, Deaconess Patience Eyengho in a talk lamented the high neglect experienced by women of the Oil bearing communities and called for immediate action to address the situation.

Others who spoke include Mr. Joseph Wawah and Mr. Okpako Egbeku. They cautioned parents against inciting statement that can cause violence in the society.

High point of the day was the listing of basic needs of the oil majors host communities by the Secretary of SCSDF, Mr. Besidone Ebule. 

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