Environmental Rights Action, Friends of the Earth Nigeria

COMMUNIQUE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS NATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS MEETING

Representatives of non governmental environmental organisations in Nigeria met on the 6th day of December, 2007 in a one day environmental NGOs stakeholders meeting held at the Mekaval Hotel, Warri, Delta State to brainstorm on issues that will lead to a better environmental management in Nigeria.

Deliberations at the meeting centred on core environmental issues in Nigeria ranging from issues on forestry, water, environmental monitoring, solid minerals exploitation, oil and gas, erosion, fisheries, rivers protection, climate change, biodiversity, environmental awareness, environmental law/legislation, capacity building, budget, energy, agriculture, food and Genetically Modified Organisms, land and desertification.

At the end of the open and critically reflective discuss, the following observations were made:
1.    That except the non governmental organisations involved in the environment sector in Nigeria begin to speak with one voice, the impact of their activities will not be felt as it should.
2.    That despite the lack of capacity of some Nigerian government officials in the environmental issues, the NGOs are not doing much to offer the needed support as is the case in other societies.
3.    That even when the NGOs are ready and willing to offer support to the relevant sectors of the administration, most of the times such offers are not usually valued by them especially the legislators.
4.    That the government is not doing much in the enforcement of existing Nigerian laws/legislations on environmental protection.
5.    That government does not take into account the environmental impacts and implications of their programmes and policies before they are enunciated and reeled out.
6.    That the greatest enemy of the Nigerian community people in the protection of their environment and livelihoods is the Land Use Act which has deprived the people control over their God given resources.
7.    That almost all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government are guilty of non inclusion or mainstreaming of environmental components into their yearly budget proposals.


Arising from the above observations, the following resolutions were reached:
1.    A network of Nigerian environmental non governmental organisations with the name GREEN ALLIANCE NIGERIA was set up with a nine members organisations steering committee.
2.    That the Federal Government should stand by the 1st January, 2008 gas flare out deadline as Nigerians are not ready to negotiate that date!
3.    That environmental non governmental organisations should set up an environmental intelligence unit to liaise with the government to ensure that environmental effects components of their programmes and policies are given serious consideration.
4.    That Nigerian environmental NGOs must as a matter of urgency embark on massive sensitization and mobilization of Nigerian people for the protection and defence of their environmental rights under existing Nigerian legislations and to demand for the abrogation of obnoxious ones like the LAND USE ACT.
5.    That the government and people of Nigeria must begin now to plan and work towards the post oil and petroleum Nigeria if the country is to remain relevant during the post oil and petroleum era.
6.    That government should take urgent steps towards the protection of vulnerable communities from the impacts of climate change such as desertification, coastal flooding and erosion menace.
7.    That genetically modified products and other unauthorised food items must not be allowed into the country by any means. That Nigerians need wholesome food and therefore will not tolerate the use of food for human feeding for machine feed in the guise of agro-fuel creation.
8.    That environmental education should be integrated into schools curriculum starting from the elementary level.

Chima Williams
Environmental Rights Action
Focal Person.

Irikefe V. Dafe
River Ethiope Trust Foundation.

Okoro Otejiri
ANPEZ Centre for environment and development

Agbor Solomon Achu
Rural women and youth development initiative.

Efiom Duke
ABGREMO for development.

Zabby Nenibarini
Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development.

Che. I. Ibegwura
Host Communities Network of Nigeria.

Asume  Osuoka
Social Action.

Priscilla M. Achakpa
Women Environmental Programme.

Nnimmo Bassey
Environmental Rights Action.