HOMEF cautions Delta govt against sale of 258,000-hectare mangrove forests

The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has cautioned Delta State government against the sale of 258, 000 hectares of mangrove forests, as carbon trade pollute the environment, and dangerous to human nature.

HOMEF Executive Director, Nnimmo Bassey, who was a guest speaker at the Environment outreach magazine public lecture/yearly award held in Asaba, said carbon trade is a killer disease, which affects human beings including rivers.

“Delta State is proposing to sell 258, 000 hectares of mangrove forests, one of the biggest in the country to some companies, whose intention, we believe is to sell the carbon to oil companies, and when they buy the credit, they will have the right to pollute. Carbon credit upsets the pollution that is why it is a false solution,” he cautioned.

The publisher of Environment Outreach magazine, and Egegba of Yenagoa, Chief Noble Akenge, lamented the negative effect of environmental pollution in Delta State. According to him, the state being the heart of petroleum activities had suffered ecological damage due to oil spills.

He stated that the people’s major preoccupations of fishing and farming have been impacted as most of their farmlands, rivers and streams have been polluted by oil spills.

IN a related development, the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has also cautioned Gele-gele residents and other communities in Edo State to ensure just energy transition.

HOMEF Programme Manager for communities and Culture, Mr Cadmus Enade, who spoke during a training of Gele-gele community residents on Just energy transition themed; “Community dialogue on just energy transition and the use of cultural tools to build resistance,” orgainsed by HOMEF, which attracted community leaders, elders and other representatives from gele-gele community.
emphasised the

Enade said just energy transition involves fairness, oneness, justice and equity in the activities of the extraction and how it affects the environment. He urged participants to build community resistance with the use of cultural tools such as music, food, dance, social norms and behaviours.

An environmental activist, Mr Babawale Obayanju, lent his voice on the need for communities to be involved in decisions that affect them, as well as documentation of their community needs.

Obayanju said the just energy transition will reduce the level of pollution, health, environment, ecosystem, and biodiversity. He further urged community members to take up responsibilities to campaign against illegal activities that are endangering the environment.