FG, states urged to invest in Niger Delta ecosystem

As a means of complimenting revenue from oil and gas for the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region, the federal and state governments have been urged to encourage investment and research in ecosystems.

Lamenting insufficient investment in the ecosystems services in the Niger Delta, stakeholders in the environment, also advocated an integrated and multi-sectoral framework towards addressing issues of ecosystems management and challenges of the rivers and deltas in Africa.

The submission was contained in a communiqué issued after a two-day international conference on rivers and deltas in Africa, organised by a consortium of universities in the Niger Delta and hosted by the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State with the theme: ‘Sustaining Ecosystems Services of Africa’s Rivers and Deltas’.

In the eight-point communique, the stakeholders urged the international oil companies to partner with government, host communities, NGOs and other corporate bodies to chart a new course for sustainable development agenda for the Niger Delta.

They also called for a paradigm shift from the current flood control and crisis management approach to sustainable and integrated flood-risk management method in line with global best practices to address disasters from floods in the region, Nigeria and Africa.

They suggested that tertiary institutions in the Niger Delta need to strengthen research collaboration on sustainable development activities in the region.

The participants added that the International Oil Companies, government and communities should carry out modern environmental pollution control measures to save the rivers and deltas.

The participating universities include, University of Port Harcourt; Federal University, Otuoke; Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Delta State University, Abraka; University of Calabar, Calabar; University of Uyo, Uyo and University of Benin, Benin.