From Rhoda Godwin, Yenagoa
A non governmental organization under the auspices of Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), in collaboration with Space for Change (S4C) has expressed dissatisfaction over environmental injustice done to oil host communities, which should be addressed before energy transition come 2060.
The Executive Director of YECA-Nigeria, Mr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, disclosed this in a program tagged, “stakeholders and community engagement on just Energy transition in Nigeria, at Emeyal 11, Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa stare.
According to Fyneface, it is all about an extractive industry and climate change governance project with the theme, “From Exclusion to Inclusion”, in National just transition plans, under the supporting partner Africa Center for Energy policy (ACEP), with implementing partners S4C and YECA-Nigeria.
He said, “we are coming to communities across the Niger Delta to sensitize people on National just transition plans. We are here today in Emeyal 2 community to create awareness on it. This is oil producing community, people need to know what is being done in the national.
“The president of Nigeria, Muhammad Buhari has announce that by 2060, Nigeria will be transiting from fossil fuel to clean and renewable energy, which they have adopted gas to be the solution, which means fuel found under the water is not going to be useful again.
“The communities should know what the government is doing, and the theme is “from exclusion to inclusion.” The government has excluded the communities in their plans and the things there should know.
“The communities should all look at what the negative impacts of fossil fuel has done to them and ask for justice and compensations.
Environmental injustices endured by oil communities must be resolved first before major shifts away from oil are implemented.
“A clear road map for righting the wrongs of the fossil fuel era in extractive communities must be provided. National and corporate-led energy agenda should address the flaws of the fossil fuel economy before transition.
In her submission, the focal person for S4C, Mbamara Jecinta said, the main reason for the engagement is to get the communities perspective on energy transition and also capture their views.
She said, ” the involvement of local communities must be prioritized in the green economy.
“Alternative livelihood schemes should be made available in communities with concentration of artisanal refineries. This could be achieved through community engagements with civil societies persistent involvement and assistance.
