Women from the oil-bearing communities of Ibeno and Esit Eket in Akwa Ibom State on October 10, 2023, signed a declaration for an end to gas flares in their communities
The activity was performed on Tuesday before government functionaries and other relevant stakeholders in Uyo, during a Town Hall meeting on “Strategies to End Gas Flaring in Akwa Ibom” organized by Policy Alert in support of Global Green Grant funds.
Before the declaration, the women represented by their leaders, Lady Apostle Cecilia John Ikot, Essien Kokomma Eshiet, Rhoda Peter among others described Gas flaring as a threat to their existence noting that it releases carbon dioxide and methane, two greenhouse gases into the environment which exacerbates the effects of climate change in their immediate communities.
The women noted that gas flaring had fouled their air, poisoned their water and made their farmlands to yield less of their productive capacity adding that most disturbing to them was the adverse impact on their sexual and reproductive health, with cases of impotency, infertility and birth complications in their immediate communities recorded.
The women while disclosing that the traditional rulers and other community stakeholders were in support of their action; expressed worry over Nigerian government’s inability to meet its target of ending gas flaring in the past though currently working towards a 2030 gas flare-out deadline as a signatory to the Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership.
They, however, called for a review of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 to re-assert the environmental regulation roles of the National Oil Spill Detection and Regulatory Agency (NOSDRA), the Federal Ministry of Environment and all other environmental regulators whose roles have been diminished by the Act.
They also posited that all historic and current gas flare fines should be invested in environmental remediation of the affected communities even as they called for a robust regulatory framework that serves as an incentive for IOCs in the territory to end gas flare.
In a goodwill message, the Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Uno Etim represented by the Director of Mineral Resources, Mrs Emem Imo Ibokette who advocated for cleaner and descent environment admitted that the level of gas flaring in Ibeno is massive and urged the community to work in unity in their agitation against the menace.
She urged the women to always draw the attention of the State government where necessary adding that the Ministry will be willing to collaborate with them and provide necessary support in addressing their concerns.
Earlier, the Executive Director of Policy Alert, Mr Tijah-Bolton Akpan in his welcome address regretted that “end to gas flaring” is still being discussed in 2023 when the country should have gone past that level.
He said Gas flaring is obviously illegal and a waste of valuable economic resources and wondered why the Nigerian government had failed to take the bull by the horns in ensuring an end to it.
He revealed that Policy Alert initiated “Wethinwomengain” project to mobilize women across oil and gas communities to become an advocacy force against gas flaring.
“So beginning from the last quarter of last year we have been training women in these communities to help understand why gas flaring must be stopped.” He disclosed.
