FG Completely Ignored Environmental Concerns: ERA/FoEN

FG Completely Ignored Environmental Concerns: ERA/FoEN

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has accused the Federal Government of completely ignoring environmental concerns as it embarks on its deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

ERA/FoEN’s allegation is coming on the heels of the suspension of the nationwide civil actions led by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and civil society groups following the January 1st announcement by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA)  of a new price regime of N141 per litre  for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol.

The PPPRA's   decision led to a hike in transportation costs and in the prices of basic commodities. Nationwide strikes commenced on January 9, and called off on January 16, 2012 after the federal government pegged the price of premium motor spirit (PMS) at N97 per litre halting peaceful protests.

But in a reaction to the government decision and the suspension of the nationwide strike, ERA/FoEN said government’s response to the nationwide protests was not far-reaching as it did not cover critical demands of the people or acute environmental concerns in the oil field communities.

“It is disappointing that in all the discussions that the government spokespeople put forward to justify the removal of so-called petrol subsidy and deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, the thrust was only on revenue generation and no reference to environmental concerns,” Said ERA/FoEN Executive  Director, Nnimmo Bassey.

“The people of the Nigeria are now watching closely to see how this administration will respond to mammoth environmental concerns such as the yet-to-be implemented United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) assessment of Ogoniland, Shell’s suspicious activities with regard to the Bonga spill, endless oil spills and gas flaring for which the people of the Niger Delta have called for a comprehensive environmental audit of the region. The government cannot be scratching for revenue when it allows N2.5bn worth of gas to be wasted through gas flaring annually.Bassey said

ERA/FoEN lamented that while the strikes were on-going another major environmental disaster occurred when an off-shore rig operated by Chevron caught fire.

“We are appalled that not a single government official has made a statement on this incident three days after the tragedy occurred”, Bassey said.

He reiterated ERA/FoEN position that the present administration must muster the political will to prosecute the so-called cabal in the petroleum industry rather than additional taxation of the poor.

He insisted that it is the poor and the environment that continue to subsidise resource corruption through environmental impacts and loss of livelihoods, and not the government as its spokespeople try to make the public believe.

“We are insisting that the government goes back to the drawing board and comes out with a transparent and implementable blueprint on the environment. Anything short of this will make the so-called deregulation exercise another jamboree like many others that have made Nigerians lose confidence in the government. This is where we stand,”   Bassey concluded.

PR/Cokey