Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, has harped on the need to build people’s power and resilience in challenging environmental exploitative systems in the Niger Delta region.

In his address at the spec School of Ecology in Port Harcourt, the environmentalist emphasised that while the members of oil host communities bear the brunt of exploration, which, over time, inflicted violence on humans and the ecosystem, sustainable non-violent resistance must be built.

He, however, noted that governments in Africa, including Nigeria, must have a clear position while going to the Conference of Parties (COP 28) in Dubai and to make very good demands.

“I think Nigeria can not talk of climate change and climate justice. We have to practise it at home by stopping gas flaring because we cannot be flaring gas and demand climate justice.

“Nigerian government is in difficulty to show the world that they are serious about climate change,” he added.

According to him, by building resilience, communities should focus on clear objectives, insisting on key universal rights that anchor on right to life, right to safe environment, food and water, adding that communities should not be swayed by seeking adaptation and mitigation means.

He said: “While the system rapaciously inflicts violence on humans, other beings and the ecosystems, it is clear to us that sustainable resistance must be non-violent. As we reflect on this, it is expedient that we know that building resilience requires a clear objective and not should not be focused merely on erecting means of adaptation and mitigation that calms frayed nerves while the exploitation and abuse continue unchecked.”

Bassey urged the country to step forward and begin to do things that will show seriousness. “This is because climate change is already washing away our communities, but so far we are not convinced that the government understands the enormity of the problem.”