Oil exploration: Reps express concern over environmental degradation

By Christiana Ekpa

The Joint Committees on Environment, Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Petroleum Resources (Downstream), and Climate Change on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the environmental degradation and socio-economic marginalisation of the oil-producing communities in Nigeria
The committees lamented that the abundant natural resources in the region should have been a source of prosperity and development; rather, the host communities have suffered from pollution, land degradation, loss of biodiversity, and deterioration of traditional livelihoods that are inestimable and irreparable.
The Chairman of the Joint Committee on Environment, Rep. Pondi Gbabojor, speaking at the public hearing on the need to investigate the service and unprecedented environmental damage within oil-producing communities in Abuja on Wednesday.
He pointed out it was because of the expectations of these shortcomings that it was enshrined in the law and statues of maintaining basic principles of environmental protection, social equity, and corporate accountability, which behove any company seeking to explore natural resources to adhere to and uphold.
However, he lamented that despite the laws and regulations enacted to safeguard the Nigerian environment and the established regulatory agencies of the government that are mandated to address these concerns, the environmental damages in oil-producing communities still persist unabated.
He said it was incumbent on them, as representatives of the people, to identify the erring organizations, hold those responsible accountable, and take decisive action to mitigate the living conditions of the constituents.
The committee chairman noted that the hearing is not intended to witch hunt any company but to have clarity on the matter that has been brought to the attention of the committees and the House of Representatives.