Corruption responsible for environmental degradation in N’Delta, says EFCC boss
04 September 2024 |
3:57 am
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has attributed the persistent oil spills in the Niger Delta region to corruption.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has attributed the persistent oil spills in the Niger Delta region to corruption.
Olukoyede maintained that corruption is the root cause of the environmental degradation and ecological damage caused by oil spills in the region. He made the observation, yesterday, at a two-day International Anti-Corruption and Climate Change Conference organised by Human and Environmental Agenda (HEDA) in partnership with Hawkmoth and in support of MacArthur Foundation, in Abuja.
“The Niger Delta today is riddled with cases of oil spills, pollution and damage to the ecosystem. This cannot be blamed on natural occurrences alone. Corruption is at the root of climatic disruptions,” Olukoyede noted.
Noting that Nigeria cannot be left behind in the global movement towards cleaner energy, he maintained that greenhouse emission is a threat to environmental sustainability, adding that the country’s participation in the Climate Change Conference should not be a matter of being environmentally correct.
According to the EFCC boss, the continuous flaring of gas resources is a misnomer, saying: “Potential of gas as a major Forex earner has long been recognised by the nation. Yet, despite the Petroleum Industry Act, gas is still being flared in Nigeria to date.”
Olukoyode stressed that transparency and accountability are essential in addressing these environmental and economic crises, urging strict adherence to laws and regulations to combat corruption in the oil industry. He called for reforms in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry to address the interconnected crises of corruption and environmental degradation.
Chairman of HEDA, Olanrewaju Suraju, reiterated the importance of learning from past mistakes, as Nigeria shifts from oil and gas to new energy resources like lithium and solar energy.
He cautioned against repeating the exploitation and mismanagement that plagued the oil sector, urging the government to focus on sustainable development that benefits all regions of the country.
Suraju said: “We cannot afford to transfer our horrible experiences with oil and gas to the same thing as the new energy sources. Nigeria is one of the countries with a substantial deposit of some of the new resources and materials to be used for the new energy migration and transfer. ”
Related
1 day ago
The Vanguard for Credible Representation (VCR) has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) to prevail
1 day ago
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 41-year-old Canadian woman, Adrienne Munju, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
1 day ago
A salient area of focus for the Nigerian Government has been on tackling insecurity, particularly in regions affected by militancy, insurgency and banditry.
1 day ago
The rise of different terrorist networks around the world increases the level of concerns about global security and the protection of critical infrastructure.
1 day ago
A four-year-old baby, Nelson Emale urgently needs N5 million for surgery to address his congenital heart defect, Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Diagnosed as an infant at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State, Nigeria, Emale’s condition
1 day ago
Disturbed by the lingering insecurity in the North, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has inaugurated a committee to find ways of remedying the situation.
Chairman of the ACF Security Committee is the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Abdulrahman Danbazau
1 day ago
In commemoration of this year’s International Charity Day, ForexTime (FXTM), a prominent forex broker, has partnered with Karis and Eleos Hand of Hope Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, to provide educational resources
1 day ago
A PhD student at Kansas State University, Deborah Okedoyin, is pioneering research that combines plant-based nutraceuticals with cutting-edge technologies to enhance livestock health and food safety.
1 day ago
Operatives of the Delta State Police Command yesterday stormed a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in Agbarho town, Ughelli, killing three suspects in the process.
×
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.