Group Urges  Action Against Oil Theft,

Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has implored  the Federal Government and its regulatory institutions to be sustain the fight against oil theft and artisanal oil refining.

The group commended the current action by the Rivers State Government to address the issues of oil theft and refining of stolen crude oil and the consequent release of soot into the environment.

Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo, Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) who stated this in a statement,said although artisanal refining of stolen crude oil is indicated as the current accelerator of soot and ambient air pollution in the Niger Delta region, it is also important to point out that decades of reckless exploration and production activities by multinational companies such as Shell, ill maintained oil pipelines and facilities, routine gas flaring and lax regulatory framework are responsible for the dangerous situation in which millions of people who reside in the Niger Delta region now find themselves.

He noted that a 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) fact sheet on ambient air pollution, states that air pollution around the world is responsible for 4.2 million premature deaths globally every year.

“The report further states that exposure to air pollution is also responsible for increasing rates of stroke, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.

He  also alleged that hospitals across Rivers state are reporting a marked uptick in patients presenting with respiratory illnesses, especially children whose lungs are unable to withstand the constant poisoning from air pollution.

“There are also reports of increase in patients suffering severe burns from explosions resulting from utilizing improperly refined kerosene from artisanal refining processes.

 Uyi Ojo further stated “Although the current action of the Rivers State government is a welcomed respite for the people of the state, more still needs to be done.

The governments of other Niger Delta states need to take similar actions by identifying and properly decommissioning all artisanal stolen crude oil refining sites in their states to halt the self-inflicted destruction of the environment and unnecessary loss of lives.”

He also called for the development of a holistic framework that addresses both the supply of artisanal products and the high demands for these products in our communities which include rising cost of living, unemployment, and severe impact from hydrocarbon pollution on rural livelihoods.

“There is the need for providing alternative income generation sources for these youths to discourage them from the illegal act, hence Governments at all levels must as a matter of necessity diversify our economy from oil and gas dependence and towards a transition to renewable energy sources such as solar mini-grid and off-grid systems.”

Mike Karikpo, ERA/FoEN’s Director of Programmes and Administration, in another statement also alleged that “security agencies in the Niger Delta region aid, influence and provide protection for oil thieves and artisanal oil refining activities.

“This is therefore a matter of national security and President Buhari needs to wield the big stick and cleanse the Augean stables that has become the security architecture in the Niger Delta region.”

The group called on the federal government and the state governments in the Niger Delta region to convene a national dialogue to discuss and agree on practical steps to take in the short, medium, and long term to holistically deal with the menace of oil theft and artisanal oil refining as well as the supply and demand for these dangerous products.

“In the short term, all state governments in the Niger Delta region should immediately identify and properly decommission all artisanal refining sites in their states and ensure that this process of decommissioning does not contribute to further release of soot into the atmosphere.

“The government should also work with the youths particularly the ERA-led Young Friends of the Earth ambient air quality monitors, who have been trained and have been conducting air quality investigations in communities in the Niger Delta since 2018 to provide quarterly updates on ambient air quality as well as household air quality to enable adequate development planning and actions.