Indigenes of the Nembe-Okiori communities in Bayelsa State have raised concerns over the impact of oil pollution on their environment, alleging that years of contamination have led to a sharp decline in seafood resources that once sustained their livelihoods.
The communities, located within the Nembe-Okiori oilfield area, said species such as lobsters, bonga fish, periwinkle and other aquatic resources are becoming increasingly scarce due to pollution of rivers, creeks and mangrove ecosystems caused by oil exploration activities.
Speaking during a three-day leadership training programme organised by Anatolia Energy and Services Limited in Yenagoa, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nembe-Okiori Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT), Chief Isaiah Youngdede, lamented that the environmental degradation had already adversely affected fishing activities, the major source of income for residents.
Youngdede explained that the eight communities that host the Nembe-Okiori oilfield are predominantly fishing settlements situated in waterlogged terrain and are vulnerable to seasonal flooding and coastal erosion.
According to him, the environmental challenges have been compounded by recurring pollution incidents, which have damaged aquatic habitats and reduced fish populations in the area.
He noted that the pollution of mangrove forests, which serve as breeding and nursery grounds for many fish species, has disrupted the natural migration patterns of aquatic life, making it increasingly difficult for fishermen to record meaningful catches.
“The mangrove ecosystem is very important to our people because it serves as a natural habitat for many species of fish and seafood. Once those mangroves are polluted, the fishes can no longer migrate into those areas to breed as they used to. The result is what we are experiencing today – declining fish stocks and increasing hardship for local fishermen,” he said.
Youngdede expressed concern that many families who depend on fishing for survival are now struggling to make ends meet due to dwindling catches and declining incomes.
“Our communities are exposed to a lot of pollution from the neighbouring oilfields. You have widespread environmental degradation and polluted surroundings. The people are unable to catch periwinkle, lobsters and bonga fish in the mangroves as they used to. Many families are now merely surviving from hand to mouth,” he added.
The HCDT chairman also questioned the adequacy of the three per cent Host Community Development Fund provided under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), describing it as insufficient to address the extensive environmental and developmental challenges confronting host communities.
He called on development partners, international donor agencies and environmental organisations to support community-led initiatives aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems, improving livelihoods and enhancing climate resilience in the area.
According to him, external funding and technical support would help bridge existing gaps in environmental remediation, shoreline protection and economic empowerment programmes for affected residents.
Participants at the leadership training programme also stressed the need for stronger collaboration among host communities, government agencies and oil firms to tackle environmental degradation and promote sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
The training focused on strengthening leadership capacity, community participation and effective management of resources within host community development structures established under the Petroleum Industry Act.
SOURCE: PUNCH NEWS PAPER
About The Author
